This episode's headline: Closer to War?; VOTE - MUD-SLINGING. The guests include BOB LIFF, Newsday; RASHID KHALIDI, Middle East Analyst; GEOFFREY KEMP, Former Staff Member, National Security Council; PHEBE MARR, Iraq Analyst; BRUCE VAN VOORST, Time Magazine; DAVID BRODER, Washington Post; LARRY McCARTHY, Republican Media Consultant; RICHARD KIMBALL, Director, Center for National Independence in Politics; CORRESPONDENT: JUDY WOODRUFF. Byline: In New York: ROBERT MacNeil; In Washington: JAMES LEHRER