The late Lyn Nofziger, communications and political advisor to President Reagan, called the last month of a campaign "the silly season". That's when candidates go after each other each tooth and nail and the voters are left trying to separate truth from fiction. In recent years, the chaos has been amplified by cable television and dozens of talking heads analyzing everything from political polls to commercials. Add to this the commercialization of the final few weeks of the campaign by those trying to sell books or increase speaking fees and most voters are left scratching their heads.

This year's 'October Surprises' have included a Bob Woodward book claiming that CIA Director George Tenet told Woodward he tried to get Condoleeza Rice' attention on terrorism before 9/11. Isn't this the same CIA Director who told President Bush finding weapons of mass destruction was a "slam dunk". Democrats want us to believe George Tenet now, while they criticize Bush for believing him then.

President Clinton has stepped into the campaign saying he wants to return to the kind of civilized debate, without the hot rhetoric, that occurred during his Presidency. Apparently he doesn't remember Hillary and James Carville attacking, day after day, the so called Republican 'right wing conspiracy'. Besides, what is more divisive than the Democrats attacking the president for proposing privatizing social security, which he has not, or saying his tax cuts favor the rich over the poor, even though the result has been a strong economy, over 4 million new jobs and a record stock market.

Will all this name calling, leaking of scandals at just the right time, attacking opponents for what they may or may not have said or written 20 or 30 years ago or calling the opponent a liar really make a difference in this election? It will probably suppress the turnout because the voters are confused or fed up with the style of the campaign. So, whom will this help? The incumbents; and that means the chances of the Republicans maintaining control of the House of Representatives AND the Senate are good. The Democrats made the rhetoric too white hot. The word 'liar' doesn't work in a TV commercial. Nor does a constant barrage of attacks on the President.

Voters may not agree with Republicans on issues like the war in Iraq, anti terrorism, 'no child left behind' , or tax cuts but they know for what they stand. What IS missing in the Democrat's campaign is a clear outline of policies they would support. Well, as President Clinton once said, that may depend "on what the definition of 'is' is."