POLITICAL BRIEFING

DEBATE DILEMMA: Among the mysteries surrounding Ross Perot’s potential presidential bid is its impact on candidate debates. An initial flap might concern whether he even would rate an invite. . . . The guidelines set by the bipartisan commission that has been struggling to set up a face-off between the two major-party nominees say other candidates “must have a realistic chance” of getting elected to earn an invitation. Many political professionals would dispute that Perot can meet that standard. . . . Assuming he is included, strategists for President Bush and Democratic rival Bill Clinton believe that as three-men affairs, the debates could lose much of their impact. “If we debate with him, it’s a charade,” says one senior Bush campaign official. The reason: A three-way debate would obscure direct comparisons between the President and Clinton.