It was an entertaining evening, judging by the chuckles and murmurs, but Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate didn’t do much to sway the opinions of about 40 people who watched at Kansas University.

“I thought it was kind of funny but childish. I expected more out of the leaders of our country,” said Tiffany Smith, a KU freshman.

Smith said her opinion was not changed by the debate, but she thought overall that Vice President Dick Cheney did a better job.

“He seemed a lot more eloquent and sure of himself,” Smith said. “And he stuck to the questions asked.”

Mark Silver said Cheney answered questions more directly, but Sen. John Edwards had better answers.

“I think each candidate won certain issues,” said Silver, a fifth-year KU senior who attended the watch party at the Dole Institute of Politics. “It was much closer than the last debate and will probably be less effective in swaying people’s opinions.”

John Steichen, a Lawrence resident, said neither candidate did an outstanding job.

“The debate did very little for me,” he said. “I think that Cheney threw around too many numbers that don’t mean anything to people. Edwards’ approach will appeal to the common man.”

The crowd was gathered to watch the debate and participate in a study organized primarily by Diana Carlin, dean of the Graduate School and International Programs and former national director of DebateWatch, an educational initiative of the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Kathleen Lynch, a Kansas University sophomore from Shawnee, watches the vice presidential debates at the Dole Institute of Politics. Lynch was one of about 40 people who gathered Tuesday for the watch party at the institute.

“Very seldom will vice presidential debates make a difference in how people vote, but vice presidential candidates can help people understand the presidential candidates better,” Carlin said.

Unlike President Bush and Sen. John Kerry in the first debate, Cheney and Edwards didn’t refrain from talking directly to each other and, in many cases, using harsh comments to attack each other’s viewpoints.

Even though vice presidential debates typically do not sway voters, the matchup this year could be more important than those in the past, said Matt Webb, a KU senior.

“The election is so close this year,” he said. “Every little thing counts.”

Steichen said Tuesday night’s debate could reinforce voters’ original opinions, but another debate of the presidential candidates will be more important in changing voters’ minds.

“The presidential debates themselves will erase this thing totally,” Steichen said.

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