Mr. Kemp's criticism of the Administration extended to one of the President's proudest programs, the Family Leave and Medical Leave Act, which Democratic pollsters find very popular with the women voters that both candidates are targeting. ''I wouldn't have voted for it; it's in place,'' in the voluntary practices of employers, argued the Republican challenger, accusing the Administration of driving ''this wedge between workers and management.''

But Mr. Gore slowly dwelled on the law's merits and said eagerly, as if delighted that his Republican opponent had criticized it, ''We now want to extend it.''

On the CNN ''Larry King Live'' program after the debate, Pat Choate, the running mate of the Reform Party's Presidential candidate, Ross Perot, gave Mr. Gore and Mr. Kemp low marks. ''Both of the guys dealt with symptoms and not the vital problems,'' Mr. Choate said. ''They got into a bidding war with the American public on what they would do -- $1,500 tax credit, 15 percent tax break, a little of this, a little of that. They didn't touch the issues.''

For Mr. Gore and Mr. Kemp, loyalty to the top of the ticket was the hallmark of the evening, with the Republican challenger repeatedly describing Mr. Dole's war wounds as a heroic measure of the sort of leadership the nation needed. The Vice President said he was proud of Mr. Clinton for various reasons, including his foreign policy and his stewardship of the economy.

Tactically, Mr. Gore sought to defend Mr. Clinton from his opponent's criticism by recalling Mr. Kemp's own past attacks on Mr. Dole in earlier political battles. ''He said much worse about Bob Dole when he said Bob Dole never met a tax that he didn't hike,'' Mr. Gore declared with a slow smile of tolerance.

Mr. Kemp, who seemed intent on slowing his normally rapid speaking pace, accused the Administration of ''demagoguery'' in using ''fear'' to try and panic older voters with assertions that Republicans endanger the health of the Medicare program.

''Al, get real,'' he declared, complaining to the moderator, Jim Lehrer, that ''the only thing they have to offer is fear.''