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His rare pronouncements on the two main national issues of the past few weeks show him failing to use opportunities for straight talking: he was late in criticising Congress's Kosovo votes, and did little to lead public debate about gun laws and youth violence in the wake of the high-school killings in Littleton, Colorado.
ECONOMIST: Out of the dark, Republican glimmers
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But CNN's Alessio Vinci says these are issues that neither of the two main candidates for prime minister have addressed.
CNN: Italy's radicals raise clone debate
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Republicans, however, dismiss such polls, arguing the midterm elections will be about two main themes: Fighting the war on terror and local issues.
CNN: Analysts: Discontent over Iraq may favor Dems