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A defensive vice president

By Joan Vennochi, Globe Columnist / October 6, 2004

DON'T LET today's headlines get in the way of yesterday's arguments for war with Iraq. Dick Cheney stuck to that principle during last night's debate with Democratic challenger John Edwards. The vice president's overall debate strategy appeared to be very simple: Say it calmly, say it with authority, and hope that people in battleground states continue to believe Bush-Cheney can fix what Democrats refer to as the "mess in Iraq" -- while forgetting that Bush-Cheney created it. Cheney did not win the charm contest, but neither did he lose the debate.

Moderator Gwen Ifill hit Cheney hard with her first question, asking Cheney to respond to the report that Paul Bremer, the former administrator of the American-led government in Iraq, is now saying that the United States never deployed enough troops in Iraq. She also pressed Cheney to defend his continued assertion of a link between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.

Cheney ducked the first part of the question, calmly defended the post-9/11 attack on Iraq and solemnly declared, "I would recommend exactly the same course of action."

It is becoming clear that these face-offs are no laughing matter for the Republican ticket. Last night in Cleveland, it was Cheney's turn to look annoyed and unhappy as he faced questions about Iraq, criticism of Halliburton, the defense contracting company he once headed, and Edwards's repeated assertion that there is no connection between the attacks of 9/11 and Saddam Hussein.

Like George W. Bush during last week's debate with challenger John Kerry, Cheney was on the defensive for much of his 90 minute face-off with Edwards. But unlike Bush, Cheney did not struggle for words, and he also got off some attacks of his own. Edwards, a trial lawyer by profession, is a tenacious advocate for Kerry and the ticket, but his bright, shiny face is something of a liability up against Uncle Dick.

Cheney was effective when he said "a little tough talk in the midst of a campaign or during a debate cannot obscure a record of being on the wrong side," on issues of national defense. Again, later, he said to Edwards, "your rhetoric would be a lot more credible if you had a record to back it up."

Edwards repeatedly brought up Halliburton, the company Cheney once headed as CEO and the no-bid contracts it has won from the US government.

Cheney called the attacks a smokescreen and then went after Edwards for his attendance record in the Senate, saying that Edwards's hometown newspaper calls him "Senator Gone." Edwards said Cheney was distorting his record but did not specify how.

Asked to defend his relatively thin resume, Edwards said voters want three things from their president and vice president -- to know they will keep them safe, have good judgment, and tell them the truth. "A long resume does not equal good judgment," said Edwards.

And now, back to Bush.

Joan Vennochi's e-mail address is [e-mail].

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