The campaign gods continue to look favorably on the frontrunners, as gods frequently do with people willing to help themselves.

. Vice President Gore’s relentless attacks on Bill Bradley--from the right on squandering the surplus, and from the left on eliminating Medicaid — have thrown the Senator off his game. Bradley has responded erratically. He’s ignored the assaults, played a little defense, and briefly went on offense over Gore’s 1996 campaign fundraising. The confused response and the rap on Medicaid are probably combining to make Bradley appear vaguely Republican to Democratic primary voters, which explains Gore’s steady lead in the polls. Bradley also suffered some self-inflicted bruising this week when his unfocused foreign policy speech was panned by the media.

As Bradley struggled with what to do about an opponent who attacks from all sides, Al "Zelig" Gore continued to try to portray himself as having been everywhere and done everything. "I found a little place in upstate New York called Love Canal. I was the one that started it all," Gore boasted to a group of high school students. Gore "discovered" Love Canal, eight months after the town had been evacuated (and years after he inspired Love Story and wrote "Love Potion Number Nine").

Gov. Bush’s tax cut plan was well-received by the tax-cutting wing of the GOP, following a well-coordinated effort by his campaign to explain the details to potential critics. Larry Lindsey, the plan’s chief architect, is pleased with the response, arguing that the Governor is "striking the right chord" on taxes while playing within the rules of Washington’s current budget constraints. Combined with a savvy media roll-out, the tax plan — barring a gaffe in tonight’s debate — makes Bush the week’s GOP winner.