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By John Mercurio
CNN Political Unit
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PLAY VIDEOCLEVELAND, Ohio (CNN) -- They might have met at a prayer breakfast (more on this later) but there was nothing humble about Cheney vs. Edwards at last night's debate. They shared a taste for red neckties, red-meat rhetoric, red faces and pushing the timer to stoplight red. And, as we saw last night, a clear distaste for each other.
This was the Rodney Dangerfield debate, held sadly on the same day as the legendary comic's death. Neither candidate showed or received much respect. (So much for our theory that men in chairs behave.)
Insta-polls following the Tableside Tantrum offered mixed results (a.k.a. -- a draw). Fox News had the senator on top at 53 to 46 percent. CBS News showed Edwards bested Cheney, 41 to 28 percent. But ABC News gave Cheney a 43 to 35 percent edge and showed no real change in the horse race. ABC's post-debate numbers were 50 to 49 percent for Bush-Cheney, a slight change from 51 to 48 percent for Bush-Cheney beforehand.
They talked about Iraq, the war on terror, the economy, jobs, Iran, Israel and AIDS.
They jabbed each other with Halliburton and trial lawyers, respectively (if not respectfully). They danced around gay marriage. Cheney snarled on occasion, and while they were seated next to each other he appeared to look down at Edwards.
But he looked tough and authoritative, not grumpy or condescending. Edwards at times looked young and inexperienced, but not in a Dan Quayle way. He looked vibrant, especially in split screens with Cheney. The senator's hourlong jog yesterday did him good.
But alas, sometimes a debate is just a debate. So with no clear victor and a night that offered more intrigue than impact, we turn back to Bush vs. Kerry and look ahead to St. Louis on Friday.
More battleground activity
Barring any major activity from Mount St. Helens taking over the headlines, one of today's top news stories will be President Bush's speech in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, which aides describe as a "significant" speech on terror and the economy. (Others describe it as "Day Two in the Bush-Cheney Campaign Revival Tour." But we digress).
CNN's Elaine Quijano, traveling with the president, reports that aides describe the speech as "a comprehensive look at two very different records, one a record of accomplishment and one being on the wrong side of history over and over again." A senior administration official said "starker contrasts will be drawn" between Bush and Kerry.
Bush's challenge, of course, is to overcome perceptions that his speech, an uncharacteristically abrupt change from his planned address on medical liability, is a result of his poll drop following his debate with Kerry -- the Miami massacre.
Bush also faces a new weapons report released today that again undercuts his rationale for going to war -- that Saddam Hussein had WMDs that posed a threat to Iraq's immediate neighbors and the United States. (Republicans might have some cover here. The report, by Charles Duelfer, head of the CIA-run Iraq Survey Group, who will present the lengthy report to Congress today, also may suggest that Saddam intended to resume illicit weapons programs if freed from U.N. inspections and trade sanctions.)
Back at the debate
Back in Cleveland last night, Cheney most effectively zinged Edwards on a topic that has given Republicans little traction this year -- his Senate attendance record. Unfortunately for Cheney, he was wrong.
"Now, in my capacity as vice president, I am the president of Senate, the presiding officer," Cheney said last night. "I'm up in the Senate most Tuesdays when they're in session. The first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight."
Edwards had no on-stage response to that particular point; he appeared zinged. But Camp Edwards rebounded post-debate, distributing a C-SPAN clip showing their guy standing beside Dick and Lynne Cheney at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 1, 2001.
In his remarks, the vice president thanked Edwards, among others, and said it was an honor to be with him. Edwards' aides also noted that Edwards accompanied fellow Tar Heel Elizabeth Dole in January 2003 when Cheney swore her in.
At a post-debate rally, Edwards drove home the point. "I guess [Cheney] forgot the time we sat next to each other for a couple of hours about three years ago," he said, noting that wife Elizabeth reminded him of their meeting on stage after the debate. "She reminded him about the truth and come November we're going to remind him that the American people do not want four more years of George W. Bush."
Edwards' protests might raise questions of Cheney's truth-telling, at least on this point, or perhaps his memory. In his spirited defense, however, Edwards looks a lot like Bush did when he insisted in Miami that "of course" he knew that Osama bin Laden attacked the United States on 9/11. Americans were unnerved when Bush felt compelled to show he'd mastered the most basic fact, and Americans might also be disturbed to learn that after four years, Edwards has met the Senate president just twice.
But Edwards, when attacked on his record, chose to point out Cheney's voting against programs such as Head Start, the King holiday, the release of Nelson Mandela and Meals on Wheels funding.
After the debate, Kerry called Edwards from Englewood, Colorado, where he's prepping for St. Louis. Pool reporters and a camera were in the room with Kerry as he told Edwards, "The country tonight got a chance to feel the confidence that I have with you and now they have confidence in you. They felt the strength, they felt the clarity ... these guys (Bush and Cheney) can only resort to fear and distortion. You held them accountable."
The White House says Bush watched from his residence and called Cheney afterward to offer congratulations.
Edwards and Cheney both went to post-debate rallies around Cleveland.
As the crowd chanted "Four more weeks!" at a park near the debate site, Edwards said, "I was so proud to be up there fighting for you tonight." In a rally at an old armory downtown, Cheney called it an "interesting" face off. "Now, we all know how close the last election was," he said. "We're going to try to do a little better this time, and I'm convinced we will."
Both Cheney and Edwards head to Florida today -- Cheney to Tallahassee and Gainesville; Edwards to West Palm Beach.
Laughing matter
Our only laugh-out-loud moment last night came not in response to Cheney or Edwards, but to moderator Gwen Ifill of PBS, who handled her debate, and the candidates, masterfully.
"I can respond, Gwen," said Cheney at one point when she asked for his rebuttal, "but it's going to take more than 30 seconds."
"Well, that's all you got," she said flatly.
You go Gwen!
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