据专门分析[选举情势]的人士及选民民意测验的初步反应，马州州长较副总统略占优势。根据美联社所邀请的六位辩论专家评分结果，杜卡基斯以144分对141分领先。 The initial reaction from analysts and voter polls was that the Massachusetts governor edged out the vice president. A panel of six debate experts put together by The Associated Press scored it144 to141 for Dukakis.
