MORE THAN THE ECONOMY NEEDS HELP.(MAIN)

Byline: MARIANNE MEANS

WASHINGTON -- The big question about the vice-presidential debate was how willing Jack Kemp would be to throw himself on the Dole funeral pyre. The answer is: not very.

Both Kemp and Vice President Al Gore accentuated the positive and downplayed the negative in a polite exchange that showcased their wit and good nature but did little to advance the cause of their principals.

Kemp went dutifully through the motions of carrying the Dole banner. Surprise: He thinks Dole is great.

Dole's running mate declined to play the role of attack dog often assigned to the second guy on the presidential ticket -- a role Dole himself …