BOSTON--A. Paul Cellucci and L. Scott Harshbarger '64 share a disdain for the boxing match that has become the 1998 gubernatorial campaign.

In previous campaigns, both were known as men who valued substance over style. Now, Conventional wisdom says their rhetorical deviousness will color voter turn-out on election day.

But acrimony did not dilute the aura surrounding their final debate, held in one of the founding chambers of American democracy.

The first few minutes of the debase were a polite exchange on Harshbarger's ideas on educational reform.

But then the sparks began to fly, prompted by media questions about the level of bitterness in the campaign.

In response to a question by Andy Hiller of WHDH-TV about how voters wouldreact to the negative campaigning, Harsbargeraccused Cellucci of using his own family forpersonal gain.

"He brought his own family into this race whenI answered questions about [Cellucci's personal]debt," Harshbarger said. According to Harshbarger,the problem with Cellucci is that "[he] can dishit out but he can't take it."

Cellucci responded that Harshbarger made hisfamily "a jokeline at his rally."

"I didn't bring your family into this, youdid," Harsbarger responded emphatically, glaringat his opponent.

Later, when addressing a question aboutCellucci's personal finances, Harsbargercomplained about Cellucci's style of campaigning,calling his conduct "sad."

But despite each others' accusations to thecontrary, the second half of last night's debateshowed that both candidates had distinct positionson key issues such as education and taxation.

Cellucci supports the death penalty, andcriticized Harsbarger for downplaying the issue.Harshbarger then gave a detailed defense of hisrecord on crime.

After clashing on rhetorical issues, thecandidates launched into a discourse on how toreduce the number of Bay State residents withouthealth insurance.

Cellucci solicited Harshbarger's position onschool choice, a hot-button issue for residents ofthe state's urban centers. "Scott, give it a try,"Cellucci said.

Harshbarger responded that other aspects ofeducational life needed fixing, referring to"crumbling schools."

Cellucci then responded he and former bossWilliam F. Weld '66 built more than 300 newschools and required competency testing forteachers. Harsbarger said such testing, which wasintroduced for the first time this year, amountedto a "pop quiz."

Cellucci responded that "only Scott Harsbargerwould consider a basic competency and literacytest a pop quiz."

Fittingly, the debate ended with the educationissue, which polls say is a top concern to BayState residents.

There were plenty of exchanges last night, somerude and others nasty.

After the debate, Sen. John F. Kerry reflectedon how the night's exchanges would affect voters.

"The tenor of the debate was not terrific forthe state," he said. "But you don't know how itcame over on T.V."

Whether a divisive but direct debate will holdtogether Paul Cellucci's fractious coalition ofblue-collar Democrats, Republicans, andindependents--or sway enough undecided voters togive Scott Harshbarger the edge--is a matter forthe Commonwealth to decide