By JOAN McKINNEY jmckinney@theadvocate.com Advocate Washington bureau

photo: news Associated Press photo Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., left, debates her challenger, Republican Suzanne Terrell, on NBC's 'Meet the Press' on Sunday in Washington. Landrieu said she will run only positive advertisements during her runoff against Terrell, even though Terrell refused to make such a promise. WASHINGTON -- In an often sharp, nationally televised debate Sunday, the runoff candidates for the U.S. Senate in Louisiana -- Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu and Republican challenger Suzanne Terrell -- laid out their differences on tax policy, abortion and other issues.

However, in their joint appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," both candidates also dodged some questions from moderator Tim Russert, or couldn't answer them. Landrieu, for instance, simply ignored Russert's question as to whether she'll invite liberal Democratic leaders, such as Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., to Louisiana for her campaign. Terrell did not know the answer when Russert asked how much it would cost the federal government if -- as Terrell recommends -- Congress makes permanent an existing program of tax cuts.

Similarly, both candidates, who are from New Orleans, gave some partial answers that amounted to a "wait-and-see" approach on future policymaking.

In a related development, The Associated Press reported Sunday that Gov. Mike Foster had released a statement giving Terrell his "full and enthusiastic support," in the race. Foster also said he would travel to Lafayette today to campaign for Terrell along with Vice President Dick Cheney, who will be in the state on behalf of Terrell. The runoff is Dec. 7.

On abortion, Landrieu said she supports the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortions under most circumstances but opposes "late-term abortions."

Landrieu was asked if she'll support a proposed ban on assisting a minor to cross state lines in search of a state that allows abortions without parental consent. She said, "I support parental oversight of abortions, particularly for those who are minors. … I will support transporting with parental consent."

Asked if she would classify an unborn fetus as a "person" if a crime is committed against its mother, Landrieu replied, "I would like to explore that issue more."

Meanwhile, Terrell said she would vote for a constitutional amendment to ban all abortions with "no exceptions." When Russert asked how Terrell then would handle physicians who performed illegal abortions or women who received them, Terrell said, "That would be something we would have to look into."

Russert presented Terrell with a copy of the oft-cited 1994 brochure from the pro-choice Planned Parenthood organization, which lists Terrell as a committee head for a Planned Parenthood event. Citing a Washington Times article, Russert also quoted a former Planned Parenthood official as saying that Terrell's name would not have been used "without her permission" and quoting former New Orleans City Councilwoman and Republican Peggy Wilson as saying she'd heard Terrell describe herself as "pro-choice despite being a Republican."

"I've never been pro-choice," Terrell said.

After the broadcast, Terrell told reporters -- as she has in the past -- that her name sometimes has been attached to events without her knowledge, and she can only surmise that a staff person may have placed her name on the Planned Parenthood brochure by mistake.

Wilson supported someone else in the Senate race and cannot document the "pro-choice" comment that supposedly was made in City Council chambers, Terrell and her spokesman, Bill Kearney, said.

On tax policy, Landrieu said:"I will vote to make $1.3 billion of the (Bush) tax cut permanent, and if we can make all of it permanent, Tim, I will. … I would like to make sure that we have the money to fund our military operations … and that we don't dip into the Social Security Trust Fund."

"These tax cuts, as popular as they sound and are, don't even go into effect until the next 10 years, the bulk of them. … I will vote to extend the tax cut if we can afford to do it … if we can get this economy going again. … I don't know what we can afford right now."

Terrell was pressed to explain her television campaign ad that promises to "reverse the tax increase."

She said the ad primarily addresses Bush's request to make permanent the tax cuts that Congress already has passed under a 10-year plan. In addition, Congress should "look at" a Clinton-era Social Security tax, Terrell said.

Asked how much money the federal Treasury would lose from her tax-cutting recommendations, Terrell said, "I can't give you that number. ... We do have a deficit, but at the end of this week, the president also gave us a new opportunity to take government workers, put that out to privatization and have the ability to save billions of dollars. … Those are the kinds of things that we're going to have to look at."

Both candidates fielded questions about political troubles with their bases of support: Landrieu unable to rely on a get-out-the vote effort by three black state senators -- all Democrats, and Terrell unable to entice a clear and straightforward endorsement from Foster, a fellow Republican, until Sunday.

In the debate, Landrieu conceded that there's a rift between her and three black state legislators, Donald Cravins of Arnaudville, Gregory Tarver of Shreveport and Cleo Fields of Baton Rouge.

"But there are thousands of black leaders in Louisiana and across this nation" and many support her, Landrieu said. She cited a 91 percent approval score from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and said "the most important thing is that the Landrieu family and my record has been about inclusion … and having a diverse base of support."

-- Anonymous, November 18, 2002