Better, but not good

Cheney did worse than I had expected. Edwards clearly won the showmanship part and I believe dazzled the audience more. In that sense he won. But on the issues aside from Iraq Cheney had some good arguments but very poor delivery. It didn't help that he kept blocking and muffling his mic. But I think Cheney did mostly what was needed, keep the Republican's base. He gave a strong, unflinching image. The attack that Edwards had were very well designed because they shows the administration was making wrong choices right from the start. He didn't attack Cheney directly since he looked stronger but he subtly attacked the whole administration and Bush as the wrong decision makers. So when the Cheney looked strong it was the administration that was dumb, but when Cheney made an attack Cheney's strong was torn to bits into secretive and untrustworthy. Edwards really knew how to play the game.

The "coup de resistance" was the question on same-sex marriage. Edwards magnificently complimented Cheney and showed that this is a trick by the administration to divert attention to real issues. Cheney's response, "Thank you for the kind words for me and my family." That's it! It's a known fact, but a hidden one that Cheney does not support Bush at all on this. You can't make a strong team if you show divisions. Depending on how much airtime that clip gets it could completely destroy the Bush campaign... if the democrat's exploit the difference and the contradiction it brings to a strong leadership team!
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