COLUMBUS - Republican Gov. Bob Taft and Democrat Tim Hagan have agreed to debate three times in the next few weeks in Dayton, Columbus and Cleveland.

        The debates will be Oct. 15 in Dayton; Oct. 23 in Columbus and Nov. 1 in Cleveland. Locations and times were not announced.

SCHEDULE

Debate 1   • When: Oct. 15   • Where: Dayton   • Sponsors: Cleveland Plain Dealer, Columbus Dispatch and Dayton Daily News   Debate 2   • When: Oct. 23   • Location: Columbus   • Sponsors: John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy at The Ohio State University, Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at the University of Akron, Maxine Goodman Levine College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University and the Voinovich Center for Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University.   Debate 3   • When: Nov. 1, 2002   • Location: Cleveland   • Sponsor: Cleveland City Club

        The debates will give most voters their first opportunities to judge the gubernatorial candidates side by side. So far, Mr. Taft is ahead in various polls, anywhere from 8 points to 18 points. Political experts say the pressure is on Mr. Hagan to use the debates to close the gap.

        “Hagan has everything to gain and nothing to lose in the debates. If he wins, it could really give him a boost in the polls,” said Robert Adams, associate professor of political science at Wright State University. “Any kind of audience, given his name recognition, will help him.”

        Jerry Austin, Mr. Hagan's campaign manager, said his candidate must do more than hold his own - he must win the debates.

        “The governor's job is to play keep-away and our job is to play take-away,” Mr. Austin said. “This will be the first time many people are exposed to Tim Hagan, and he must identify himself and make the case that Bob Taft shouldn't have his contract renewed by voters.”

        Orest Holubec, campaign spokesman for Mr. Taft, said the governor is looking forward to sharing his message and defending his first-term record.

        “Our opponent has attacked him on a number of issues and the governor wants to respond, as well as outline his position on schools,” Mr. Holubec said.

        Both campaign officials say it isn't clear yet whether the debates will air on television statewide, though they expect them to air on public television.

        No debates were held in southwest Ohio in the 1998 governor's race between Mr. Taft and Democrat Lee Fisher. That year, debates were held in Toledo, Columbus and Cleveland.

        So far, the candidates have sparred over the issues together just once this year - at Lakeland Community College Sept. 9. During that meeting, Mr. Taft blasted his opponent for trying to solve the state's budget problems, in part, by installing electronic slot machines in racetracks. Mr. Taft said Mr. Hagan's plan “is like one of those bad Hollywood movies: it's over budget and unrealistic.”

        Mr. Hagan fired back that the governor has had four years to balance the state's ailing budget and has failed. “You do not have a plan,” he told Mr. Taft.

        The governor of Cincinnati is seeking a second term and has overwhelmed Mr. Hagan in fund-raising, 14 to 1. The debates are particularly critical for Mr. Hagan, a Clevelander who has said he won't have the money to run any television ads. He is relying instead on Internet ads and possibly direct mail advertising.

        With so much at stake, Mr. Adams said Mr. Hagan better get sound debate coaching before the first face-off in Dayton on Oct. 15.

        “He'd better come out succinct, talk about solutions and play down the liberalism,” Mr. Adams said. “He can't be a college professor type that takes 30 minutes to make a point. He has to take charge and show himself to be knowledgeable. If not, he could bomb.”

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