Cheney, Edwards pull no punches in debate

The running mates for President Bush and his Democratic rival Sen. John Kerry picked up where their bosses left off last week -- arguing on Tuesday over Iraq and US security -- with Edwards accusing Cheney of "not being straight" on Iraq and Cheney countering the Democrats were not qualified to lead.

"What we did in Iraq was exactly the right thing to do," Cheney said, arguing Iraq was a crucial front in a broader war on terror. "If I had it to recommend all over again, I would recommend exactly the same course of action."

Edwards, a North Carolina senator, said Cheney and Bush were ignoring the growing chaos in Iraq and diverting attention from international threats like the nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.

"Mr. Vice President, you are still not being straight with the American people," Edwards told Cheney, adding later: "I don't think the country can take four more years of this kind of experience."

The vice presidential debate is often a sideshow to the main event in White House races, but Tuesday's match-up of Cheney and Edwards gained new significance after a series of polls showed the race tightening.

Bush plans to follow up the debate on Wednesday with a speech in the swing state of Pennsylvania on the war on terror, on which polls show voters trust him more than Kerry.