By and large, the Democrats focused on the politics of optimism instead of any substantive agenda.

"Democrats have offered nothing in terms of a substantive agenda."

But Mr. Putin, the first Russian leader to visit Havana since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, brings a substantive agenda as well.

Though he lacks executive experience, he has the political savvy to set a substantive agenda for Mr. Reagan and make it happen.

"Maybe we could win once in a while," Mr. Hayes added, suggesting a common front might influence the Mayor, who, he said, "apparently doesn't have much of a substantive agenda at this point."

News about its substantive agenda has been completely drowned out by the righteous bellowing of the opposition.

But Democrats said they thought they had the administration on the defensive, with an opportunity both to score political points and to advance their substantive agenda.

He added, "The first and most important thing was for Bush to share with people a substantive agenda that was bold and optimistic.

"I see it as a positive step toward focusing on a substantive agenda," he said.

The Mayor added: "If he is, we want the board to hold him to a clear and public substantive agenda of reform so he can be measured by that progress.