ISU students and Ames community leaders met to watch and discuss the final debate between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush during the national program Debatewatch, sponsored by the National Commission of Presidential Debates.

Organizers for Tuesday’s debate continued as scheduled at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., despite the death of Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan in a plane crash south of the city early Monday morning.

This debate differed from the other two because it was a town hall debate. In this format, citizens rather than the commentator ask the candidates questions.

“Research has shown [town hall debates] are the most popular for the viewers,” said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Catt Chapman Center for Women and Politics.

Debatewatch participants said this year’s town hall debate wasn’t as good as years past.

“I wished [the participants] had memorized their questions,” said Laura Pfeffer, freshman in English education. “They need to look the candidate in the eye and say, `The buck stops here.'”

Pfeffer said she also was surprised over the lack of emphasis on the college generation. She said the only young people in the audience were Gore’s and Bush’s children.

During the debate, Gore approached Bush, and some participants of Debatewatch felt that Gore was coming on too strong.

“[Gore’s] strength is either going to push him further or lose the campaign for him,” said Scott Kovach, sophomore in political science.

The biggest surprise of the night, Debatewatch members said, came when Gore said he was for the death penalty.

“I was surprised that Gore was in favor of the death penalty,” said Leslie Place, senior in political science.

However, Story County Sheriff Democratic candidate Paul Fitzgerald said he wasn’t surprised by Gore’s stance.

“I knew Gore was for [the death penalty], but I don’t support it,” he said.

The biggest change that the Debatewatch participants would change was the candidates’ repetition of their campaign slogans.

“They weren’t concentrating on their plans,” said Becky Mason, freshman in political science. “They need to concentrate on their own ideas instead of putting words into each others’ mouths.”

During the debates, a college professor said college students weren’t paying attention to the debates.

“Too bad the next president will affect us all,” said Monique Robertson, undecided freshman.