Vice Presidential Debate Assumes New Importance

After what Republicans acknowledge was Bush's faltering performance in his televised encounter with Kerry, the vice presidential debate has assumed critical importance, with Republicans depending on to halt the ticket's slide in momentum.

GOP strategists say Cheney's aim is to return public attention to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the administration's broader handling of the terrorism threat and away from what they called a "second-guessing" debate over the decision to invade Iraq.

Although he is hardly a charismatic politician in the traditional sense, he has some skills that make him well suited for television. These include an articulate command of issues that Democrats acknowledge is superior to that of Edwards, as well as a cool and subdued style that allows him to score even tough points in a conversational style.

"He doesn't have the option of being the nice guy that he was in the 2000 debate," said a Democratic official involved in debate preparation. "He has to really come out swinging."

Perhaps, but Cheney has often proved elusive for Democrats. In 2000, according to someone who helped Lieberman prepare, the senator assumed that Cheney would play the traditional vice presidential candidate attack role. When Cheney was a model of civility, Lieberman was left unprepared to score his points and lost much of the edge.

(10-4-04 Washington Post.)