The 36-member group from the metropolitan LA area, sponsored by MSNBC and Luntz Research, met each night of the convention on a sound stage a few miles from the Staples Center. Each of the 12 moderate Republicans, 12 moderate Democrats and 12 independents has some college education, voted in the 1996 election and plans to vote in November. As they had done nightly, each participant held a device to register and tabulate their reactions to the speeches. A twist of a red dial recorded responses on a scale of 0 to 100, with 50 being neutral. The higher the score, the more participants “agreed, believed and liked” what was being said. A color-coded computer graphic tracked the panel’s mean responses on a television monitor.

Before Gore spoke on Thursday, the group responded with an overall score of 62 when asked, “How do you expect to rate Al Gore’s speech?” After the speech, the number had risen nearly twenty points, to an overall score of 80.

One participant, Rosalba Rodarte, was moved to tears. The others on the panel burst into spontaneous applause when at the end of the speech. Some confided that they too, were almost overcome with emotion at various times. (The evening’s prime tear-jerker moment: the appearance of Ian Malone, the ailing baby whose parents were urged to put him up for adoption because their HMO initially refused to pay for his nursing care.)

Said Luntz: “This speech got a great reaction. I’ve held over 500 focus group sessions like this one. I’ve never had anyone cry after a political speech.” Rodarte, 38, a moderate Republican, said the speech struck an emotional chord with her because she works with disabled people. “They need help, and they don’t get it. I see a lot of moms with broken hearts. Gore said to them, ‘I’m going to help you out.’ The speech really touched me. I believe he’s speaking from the heart.”

Several other topics also resonated with the group. HMO reform, prescription drugs for seniors and protecting the environment drew consistently high ratings from Democrats, Republicans and independents alike. Luntz noted that Gore also used the tax issue to his advantage. “He’s trying to steal taxation as an issue, by suggesting that the Republicans are giving a break to the rich. If he can take the tax issue from the Republicans, it makes George Bush’s job a lot harder,” he said.

Many Republicans on the panel described the speech as positive, uplifting and passionate, and praised Gore for tackling unpopular issues. Republican Barbara Mora, 58, said she was “hopeful.” “If he gets in, I would be comfortable.” Other members of the panel were downright effusive. “He showed incredible leadership. I believe this man. I’d like to see him president for two terms,” said Diana Cuevas, 40, a moderate Democrat.

“It blew my mind. It was much more than I expected. He came across on everything… The speech will push him in front of George Bush,” said Elsie McClenon, a 54 year old apartment manager who is registered as an independent. Nearly everyone on the panel agreed that Gore met the challenge of stepping out from the shadow of President Bill Clinton. Said Luntz: “Everyone expected him to bore us to tears.”

“He grabbed the reins, said Bill Lyons, 47, a data base administrator and moderate Democrat. Added John Armendariz, a 37 year old construction worker and moderate Democrat: “He said to us, ‘I am my own man.’ That was it for me.”

Gore, said the group, did more than simply shed his image as a dull and uncharismatic speaker. Many on the panel actually declared him “sexy” after the speech.

There were some dissenting voices, though. Some panel members found the speech “too manipulative.” Gene Graham, 62, a Republican who voted for Perot in 1996, thought less of Gore after the speech. “Everybody loves Santa Claus, and that’s what he was tonight. He promised everything under the sun, and no way to pay for it,” said Graham.

Still, the speech changed the minds of at least 7 panel members, bringing to 22 the number who intend to vote for Gore. (Bush’s acceptance speech in Philadelphia also changed 7 minds.) Luntz believes Gore has plenty of reason to celebrate. “Gore said the very phrases people wanted to hear,” he said. “I think the Gore people are probably popping champagne bottles after this speech. Down in Texas, I’m not sure how happy they are.”