Why Is The Veep Debate Important?

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Oct. 9) -- There are lots of reasons why tonight's vice-presidential debate is important. One of them is not that it will mean much for the election. Americans don't vote for vice president.

Controversial running mates like Spiro Agnew and Dan Quayle didn't seem to do much harm to Richard Nixon or George Bush. And running mates who were widely acclaimed, like Geraldine Ferraro and Lloyd Bentsen, did not do Walter Mondale or Michael Dukakis a lot of good.

So, if it doesn't have much impact on the vote, why is a vice-presidential debate important? The reason is, win or lose, a vice-presidential candidate becomes a major figure in American politics. And debates often tell you a lot about them.

Bob Dole has spent the last 20 years trying to live down a comment he made in the very first vice-presidential debate, back in 1976. "I figured up the other day, if we added up the killed and wounded in Democrat wars in this century, it'd be about 1.6 million Americans -- enough to fill the city of Detroit."

There was a lot of interest in the 1984 vice presidential debate because Ferraro was the first woman ever to run on a national ticket. She proved she was not someone to be trifled with. During that debate, she said to then-Vice President George Bush, "I almost resent, Vice President Bush, your patronizing attitude that you have to teach me about foreign policy."

In 1988, there was a lot of interest in how Quayle would handle himself. When asked the question, "What's the first thing you would do if the president died and you had to take over?," Quayle replied "First, I'd say a prayer for myself and for the country."

Against a tough old pro like Bentsen, the kid didn't have a chance. Responding to a question about age and experience, Quayle said he was as experienced as John F. Kennedy was in 1960. Bentsen shot back, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."

By 1992, Ouayle had gained a lot of self-confidence, enough to take on Al Gore. As Gore went on about family leave legislation, Quayle cut in, saying, "Take a breath, Al. Inhale."

But that year there was a lot of curiosity about the new face on the stage, Ross Perot's running mate, Admiral James Stockdale. In fact, Stockdale posed the question himself by saying, "Who am I? Why am I here?" When the Quayle and Gore got into a squabble, Stockdale showed exactly why he was there. Jumping in the middle of the verbal sparring, Stockdale said, "I think America is seeing right now the reason this nation is in gridlock."

This year, both candidates for vice president are highly regarded. Both are considered qualified to be president. And both are front-runners for their parties' nominations in 2000.

Right now, Gore leads Kemp in a match-up for president, but his lead is about half the size of Bill Clinton's margin over Dole. The good news for political junkies who are bored with this year's race is the next presidential race starts with tonight's debate. And it looks like it's gonna be a corker.

This story originally appeared on CNN's "Inside Politics."

Why Is The Veep Debate Important?

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