Debate contentious from the beginning

CLEVELAND — The Tuesday night debate between Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic Sen. John Edwards focused heavily on the decision to go to war in Iraq, and which side would better win the peace there.

In a serious 100 minutes, Cheney said his opponent had a lack of conviction, and Edwards said Cheney had a lack of credibility.

Cheney, 63, and Edwards, 51, each served traditional running mate roles: go on the attack against the other party's presidential nominee and stay there.

Cheney attacked Kerry as a tax raiser, defense cutter and waffler on war and peace.

"We have never criticized his patriotism," Cheney said, citing what he said were multiple positions that Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry has taken on Iraq. "What we have questioned is his judgment, and his judgment is wrong."

Edwards scored most when he alluded to current headlines: from Iraq, where a war with insurgents continues, and from home, where the economy has had trouble creating jobs since a 2001 recession.

"Mr. Vice President, I don't think the country can take four more years of this kind of experience," Edwards said, attempting to counter Cheney's far more substantial public service resume.

Cheney portrayed the Democrats as pessimists who had undergone election-year conversions to cover up Kerry's 20-year Senate voting record and Edwards' lack of experience.

But Edwards right off the bat signaled a combative evening when, referring to the optimistic assessment from Cheney and President Bush about the war in Iraq, he said: "Mr. Vice President, you are still not being straight with the American people."

As he did through most of the night, Cheney sat stoically, displaying only a hint of bemused smile.

It kept on that contentious keel for most of the debate, as the two men sparred through arguments over Iraq, gay rights, health care and the economy.

Each man had high and low points:

• Cheney pluses: He used Edwards' criticisms of Kerry during the Democratic primaries to score, citing Edwards' rap on the cost of Kerry's health-care plan.

The vice president also rapped Edwards for being absent for a majority of committee meetings about the nation's intelligence and for going AWOL on key votes since the Democrat began running for president two years ago.