It's all becoming clear

POLITICAL DEBATES among a set field of candidates often improve over time. Familiarity provides increasing clarity to personal and substantive differences.

Last night the prosecutor, the policy wonk, and the prophet -- the three Democrats running for governor -- all attempted to hone those images. For the most part they succeeded, at times with startling effect.

Attorney General Tom Reilly grabbed for the spotlight from the first moment, charging that the campaign of venture capitalist Chris Gabrieli had leaked confidential financial information harmful to Reilly's prospective running mate. ``I'm very disappointed in you, Chris," he admonished scornfully. Gabrieli ignored him, and neither mentioned that Reilly's own campaign had been discovered recently encouraging a smear against lawyer Deval Patrick, the third candidate. Minutes later, Reilly rehashed old charges about Patrick's corporate career and a long-paid-off property lien. He could have been running for attorney general for life.

Snapping his fingers, Reilly described his quick response to the Sept. 11 attacks, but in a way reminiscent of the hyperventilating Al Haig, telling America not to worry after Ronald Reagan had been shot. Reilly's performance, drenched in desperation, seemed likely to win more headlines than votes.

Gabrieli talked mostly about his ideas and himself. ``All my life I've poured myself into the things I've gone after," he said. Gabrieli's energy and ideas -- about innovation and stem cells and alternative energy and protecting whistleblowers -- burst out in gusts, and often effectively, though his position on the corporate health mandate was muddled.

He also attempted to claim some of the tax-cut ground occupied first among the Democrats by Reilly, even though Gabrieli's phased proposal offers little more hope of a speedy income tax rollback than Patrick's plan, which continues to focus on relieving pressure on property taxes.

Gabrieli touted himself as the one ``who can do the best job," as opposed to the one who ``gives the best speeches."

But Patrick's words combined specifics on a number of issues -- his economic development proposals were especially sharp -- with exhortations to the public that have become his trademark.

Emphasizing the large number of volunteers supporting his candidacy, Patrick said, ``One thing I have learned is how important it is to listen -- to show up and listen." And he repeatedly turned attention from himself, saying, ``I am asking people to act as citizens."

These three have debated often, including the night before last. The exercise has been beneficial to them and to voters, as the differences become ever clearer.