The last time they met, W. Mitt Romney and U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 attached each other's records.

Last night's town meeting at Holyoke Community College proved less volatile and more issue-oriented than Tuesday's debate.

Although Romney performed impressively last night, a Boston Globe/WBZ poll released earlier showed that significant damage has already been done to his campaign. After Tuesday's debate, Kennedy edged ahead of Romney by 20 points.

Constrained by the slower-paced town meeting format of last night's event. Romney wasn't able to engage Kennedy in the kind of confrontation that characterized Tuesday's debate.

Although Romney occasionally attacked Kennedy on his record, criticizing the senator's votes against Operation Desert Storm and his failure to pass a comprehensive welfare reform bill, potential skirmishes were soon cut off by the moderator.

Crime was the only issue that sparked a prolonged conflict between the candidates.

Romney faulted Kennedy for voting against a mandatory sentencing law and for being soft on criminals who sell drugs to children.

Kennedy, defending his votes, then challenged Romney on his stance on gun control.

"You talk about guns?" Kennedy snapped. "I know enough about it, Mr. Romney."

The other issues frequently raised in the meeting were education and welfare reforrh.

Both candidates said they favored a welfare program that would put every able-bodied aid recipient to work.

"The best social program is a good job," said Romney, a highly successful executive who cited his business savvy as a skill qualifying him for the Senate.

"My skills are particularly attuned to the times," Romney said.

Romney stressed the importance of a tax credit to companies to give them an incentive to put welfare recipients to work. Kennedy concurred, pointing out that the tax credit is "on the books," but needed to be "on the table."

Child care became a central focus of the debate, figuring into both candidates' answers on education, welfare and crime.

Romney raised the issue of family values in his responses on crime prevention and welfare reform.