Features

DANVILLE, Ky. — Democratic vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman charged in campaign debate Thursday night that Republicans want to “raid the Medicare trust fund to pay for their tax cuts.” But Republican Dick Cheney said there was more than enough money to go around, and it is “totally reasonable” to give relief to all taxpayers. 

The argument that “somehow ... all of it is going to tax cuts isn’t true,” Cheney said of the huge surpluses forecast over the next decade. 

The two men sparred – but politely – as they sat together for their only debate of the fall campaign. The atmosphere on a specially constructed stage at Centre College seemed more relaxed than Tuesday night when presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush met in Boston for the first of their three scheduled encounters. 

Each man pledged to avoid personal attacks. Cheney took that one step further. “I promise not to bring up your singing,” he said to Lieberman, drawing laughter from his rival. 

“And I promise not to sing,” Lieberman quipped in rebuttal. 

The campaign understudies debated in a White House campaign as close as any in the past four decades. Bush and Gore are separated by only a point or two in most polls, pointing to a suspenseful final month of the campaign. 

The two men reprised comments made Tuesday night by the presidential candidates when the topic turned to RU-486, an abortion pill recently approved by the government for use in the United States. 

Cheney said the FDA had already acted, and the only issue was whether the drug was safe. He said he and Bush are “pro-life,” and the Texas governor would look for ways to “reach across the divide to reduce abortion.” 

Lieberman signaled his support for the FDA decision, and  

said there were fundamental differences between the two tickets  

on abortion. 

“Al Gore and I will respect a woman’s right to choose. And our opponents will not,” he said. 

Cheney, a former defense secretary, and Lieberman, a two-term Connecticut senator, arrived in Kentucky earlier in the day. 

Cheney, holding the hand of his granddaughter, 6-year-old Kate Perry, greeted well-wishers at an airport rally as he arrived in Lexington. 

He said of the debate, “It’s a great opportunity for Senator Lieberman and I to have a conversation, if you will, with the American people and to lay out what it is we hope to do for the country.” 

Lieberman said after Tuesday night’s presidential debate that it was a sign of desperation for Bush to question Gore’s character and dispute his credibility by alluding to President Clinton’s troubles. 

Cheney said, “Al Gore, once again, made up facts.” As long ago as the Republican National Convention, he was saying Gore was trying to shed Clinton baggage. 

Lieberman began his day with a jog around Lake Reba in Richmond with his wife Hadassah and son Matthew. “I want to talk about the issues. That’s what it’s all about,” Lieberman said afterward, wiping his sweaty brow. 

His T-shirt said “Fightin’ Joe Lieberman” on the front and, in big block letters on the back, “CHAMP.” Lifting his arms during his run, he pumped his fists like Sylvester Stallone in the movie “Rocky.” 

“Obviously, he has some nervousness in him ... but he feels confident,” Mrs. Lieberman told MSNBC. “The only advice I’ve given him is, ’Be yourself.”’ 

Lynne Cheney said her husband was feeling “pretty relaxed” and was looking forward to pointing out the differences between his boss, Texas Gov. Bush, and Vice President Gore. 

She took a swipe at Gore in an interview on ABC-TV, saying, “I think a very important theme tonight will be to point out that perhaps Al Gore is not the kind of leader, the kind of person who reaches across partisan lines and brings people together to effect change. Perhaps he’s not the kind of leader we need.” 

While boosting their presidential ticket leaders, the running mates also were given a chance in the national spotlight to show off their own qualifications, including the ability to step into the No. 1 spot if needed. 

Lieberman, experienced in Senate debate, is known as well for his sense of humor. 

Cheney served for a decade in Congress as the representative from Wyoming. He also was President Ford’s chief of staff and was defense secretary during the Persian Gulf War. 

In many ways, Lieberman and Cheney have been debating for weeks. 

For example, Lieberman said after Tuesday night’s presidential debate that it was a sign of desperation for Bush to question Gore’s character and dispute his credibility by alluding to President Clinton’s troubles. 

Cheney said, “Al Gore, once again, made up facts.” As long ago as the Republican National Convention, he was saying Gore was trying to shed Clinton baggage. 

An estimated 46.5 million people watched Tuesday’s Bush-Gore debate, according to Nielsen Media Research. Fewer viewers were expected to tune in for Cheney-Lieberman. 

Assorted protest groups tried their best to be heard by the candidates. Police allowed dozens of protesters onto the college campus after a standoff; they refused to be confined to a protest area away from the debate site and marched down Main Street toward the school. 

Much of the protests focused on the exclusion of third-party candidates from the debate. Other groups talked about Falun Gong, a religious sect banned by the Chinese government, human rights issues in Latin America and the U.S. embargo against Cuba.