Vice Presidential Debate: Cheney and Edwards Prepare for Clash

Strategic Insights -

In a highly anticipated matchup, Vice President Dick Cheney and Senator John Edwards will engage in their first and only debate, focusing on the men at the top of their respective tickets, President Bush and Senator Kerry. The goal for Cheney is to portray Bush as a steadfast, principled leader, while Edwards aims to argue that Bush has failed to make the nation safer and has a weak economy. The debate, set to take place at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, is expected to be closely watched, with both sides aware of the high stakes involved.

Key Takeaways:

  • The debate format, with both candidates seated at a table with the moderator, Gwen Ifill, plays to Cheney's strengths in conversational settings.
  • Edwards's approach to the debate will be to portray Cheney as the stubborn soul of the Bush administration, still clinging to outdated views on Iraq and Al Qaeda.
  • Cheney's aides say he has been preparing extensively, including practicing with Representative Rob Portman, who will play the part of Edwards, and has assembled a mock debate setting at his home in Jackson, Wyoming.
  • Edwards, meanwhile, has been intensively studying policy, consulting advisers, and reviewing Cheney's record and past statements.
  • Analysts have highlighted that Edwards's limited experience in government could be a hurdle, but his facility with language, honed from years of arguing cases, could be his biggest asset.
  • The debate will cover both foreign and domestic affairs, providing opportunities for both candidates to attack each other on various issues, including the economy, Iraq, and Halliburton.

Statistics:

  • The debate will last 90 minutes and will be carried on PBS.
  • Cheney has been practicing with Portman, who will play the part of Edwards, for several days.
  • Edwards has earned over $40 million arguing before juries, according to one of his aides.
  • Edwards'sdebate strategy includes portraying Cheney as stubborn and unwilling to concede on Iraq-related issues.
  • Cheney's advisers say he will focus on pressing the case that Bush had trouble getting across on Thursday, emphasizing the need for aggressive action against terrorism.

Sources:

  • Jonathan Sallet, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman's debate manager in 2000
  • Representative Rob Portman (R-OH)
  • Mary Matalin, Cheney's longtime communications aide
  • Matthew Dowd, the Bush campaign's chief strategist
  • Peter Scher, Edwards's campaign manager
  • Merle Black, a political science professor at Emory University
  • An adviser to Cheney (who asked to remain anonymous)
  • Gwen Ifill, moderator for the debate

Note: The narrative summary paragraph has been adjusted to remove filler phrases and maintain a direct and concise style, while the key takeaways and statistics sections have been reformatted to adhere to the specified format.