Veep Debate

Vice Presidents pretty much get the Rodney Dangerfield treatment— from everybody, including their own presidents.

When a Veep starts getting a little too much attention, a president can remove him from the limelight. Send him off to an "undisclosed location" or a fact-finding trip to Upper Bazbonia.

Under typical circumstances, only their immediate families give much of a hoot about a Vice Presidential debate. But tonight's different. The incumbent president just got smacked around in his debate.

Lost his lead. Gave his staff that cold, empty feeling that 43 could end up a one-termer like 41, his poppy.

We hear reports that Cheney will try to crumple Edwards now, to get even. Spinners breathlessly tell us that Edwards has never debated one-on-one.

This is as much hype as we're likely ever to hear about a Vice Presidential debate. Who knows. Maybe this one will beat the Gilligan's Island re-run.

Brad Messer commentary— KTSA.