EDITORIAL : THAT'S THE TICKET VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ENGAGED IN A CONSTRUCTIVE DEBATE.

Vice President Al Gore and Republican vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp showed the nation last week how to talk in depth about important issues, disagree substantially, present clear distinctions on ideas and do it without assassinating each other's character.

It was the 90-minute substantive debate that President Clinton and GOP challenger Bob Dole should have had, but didn't.

Kemp and Gore are to be commended for showing the nation (and their bosses) how to tackle tough issues head-on.

They confronted the proposed 15 percent income tax cut, abortion and affirmative action (all of which were avoided in the presidential debate the previous Sunday), and put their cases before the electorate in some detail.

Kemp is obviously a more passionate proponent of the tax cut than his running mate, Dole. Kemp and Gore together explored the impact of a tax cut on the environment, on African-Americans and on the inner cities, with Kemp repeatedly making the case for expanding the economy by reducing taxes and deregulating business while Gore stuck to the ``It's too risky'' theme.

On abortion, Kemp defended his own position against it while reaching out to a broader electorate by saying that a constitutional amendment outlawing the practice is not in the cards politically - a position that is sure to alienate many conservatives.

For both men, who may have presidential aspirations of their own, the debate perhaps was a dress rehearsal for the race in 2000.

But that did not detract from their discussion of the issues in this election. Both men clearly relish the politics of substance, and that's a refreshing change in this election. We are growing weary of the canned sound bites favored by political consultants who believe that candidates, to win, must insult the intelligence of the voters.

No less refreshing was the candidates' manner. The two men are old friends and former congressional colleagues, and they treated each other with respect rather than disdain, as both joked, smiled and never came close to losing their tempers.

In a world bombarded by bad manners, foul language, rudeness, abusiveness and people who think blowing windows out of cars on the freeway is great fun, it is encouraging to see a return to civility in national politics.