Operating on the premise that many Americans would like help deciding who won the debate, the press covering the showdown at Washington University spent a frenzied few minutes after the debate touring an area known in campaign circles as "Spin Alley."
In the recreational gymnasium, which had been converted into a temporary press center, hundreds of reporters rushed to file their post-debate stories. The "spin doctors" poured into the room to get their messages out. From White House Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater to House Speaker Thomas Foley (D.-Wash.), the spin doctors spoke as experts. Their job: "accentuate the positive" and "eliminate the negative" when analyzing the performance of their favored candidate.
A quick tour through "Spin Alley" revealed that, though the Democrats and Republicans both discounted his ability to win the election, independent candidate Ross Perot had scored unexpected points in the debate. From Republican operatives such as Fitzwater, who accused Perot of detracting from the importance of the debate with glib one-liners, to Clinton strategist James Carville who believed Perot and Bill Clinton had stressed many of the same themes, it was apparent that the wild card from Texas had come up aces.
Perot operatives also worked the room emphasizing that their candidate had used the debate to re-emerge as a serious force in the election. "I don't know who he's going to take votes away from, but after the debates it is clear that Ross Perot is going to get votes," said Ken Langone, a Perot supporter and investment banker from New York.
Though their candidate may have impressed many during the debate, the Perot population of spin doctors was much smaller than that of the two other candidates. Three or four experts could be found to support Bush and Clinton for each one spinning for Perot. However, the Democrats and Republicans in "Spin Alley" had to acknowledge the Texas billionaire.
"The Perot comments underscore the need for a change, and Bill Clinton is the candidate of change," said Foley.
"Ross Perot had a very good debate," said Torie Clark of the Bush campaign. "He showed maturity and experience just like the President did. I think that if you score the debate, Clinton comes in a distant third."
A different kind of spin came from Sen. John Danforth (R.-Mo.), who told reporters that Perot's performance detracted from the debate. He praised both Bush and Clinton for "not trying to score cute little one-liners but really trying to underscore the differences between them." Perot, on the other hand, was "irrelevant and a little wacky" in Danforth's opinion.
Missouri Congressman and House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt (D.-Mo.) praised Perot's effort but downplayed its effect. "I think Ross Perot did a fine job, and he clearly feels deeply about the country, but I think the American people have decided that he's not a serious candidate for the presidency," said Gephardt.
Others attracting attention in "Spin Alley" included Sen. Joseph Biden (D.-Del.) and Jack Kemp, secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
"Spin Alley" is a frantic dance between reporters and spin doctors as individual members of the press search for the unique angle that the other 1000 may have missed, and experts try to make sure that every reporter hears their message.
One bystander, viewing "Spin Alley" from a safe distance, said: "This is nuts! But I guess somehow this chaos might be what voters need to really come to terms with what happened in the debate."