This wasn't a great week for the frontrunners.

Just as Al Gore's campaign was thought to be back on track, with a new energy, new location, and new wardrobe — the old Al Gore took the stage in his first side-by-side encounter with Bill Bradley. With little to distinguish them on the issues, personality differences provided the contrast. The Vice President (Message: "I bond") suffered in comparison with Bill Bradley, who came across as a more authentic personality.

Al Gore had clearly done his homework, but instead of looking disciplined and competent, he appeared programmed. The phony friendliness in his questioning of the questioners quickly became annoying, and must have reminded the audience of the sort of earnest, pushy neighbor they remain indoors to avoid. Bradley's understated delivery and his refusal to take a few obvious shots at the Administration gave him a superior air.

Both candidates had a command of the issues and a coherent rationale for their races that must have caused more than a few nervous Republicans to wonder how their frontrunner would have performed had there been a third stool. But George W. Bush didn't even have a stool at the Republican forum the next day, which added to the growing perception that the Bush operation is too smug. Indeed, he emerged the loser from the GOP event.

Meanwhile, the blooper of the week, comes courtesy of the Forbes campaign. Just how difficult is it to introduce a candidate to the public? Steve Forbes has been running a black and white ad depicting him in profile, in an Oval Office-like setting, talking about the issues. Some people who've seen the ad have told GOP party operatives how pleased they are that the party has a blind man running for the White House.

Since 1996, Steve Forbes has spent tens of millions so voters will know his detailed positions on key issues — and there are still people who don't even know that he can see?