Following the debate between Vice-President Al Gore and Governor George Bush earlier this week, it was the turn last night of their running mates to face the voters on nationwide television.
Senator Joe Lieberman for the Democrats and Mr Dick Cheney for the Republicans debated at a college in Danville, Kentucky. It was the only debate between the vice-presidential candidates. Mr Gore and Mr Bush will have two more before the election on November 7th.
The 90-minute vice-presidential debate, which began at 2 a.m. this morning Irish time, was expected to be a sharp contrast in styles. Mr Lieberman, the first Jewish-American to be on a presidential ticket, has surprised observers with the verve and enthusiasm with which he has plunged into the rough and tumble of the campaign trail.
He is ready to sing and dance when called on and cracks jokes about his Jewishness and his opponents.
Mr Cheney, a former secretary of defence who helped organise the preparations for the Gulf War in 1990-1991, has been somewhat of a disappointment to Republicans with his low-key style of campaigning and distaste for mixing with supporters at election rallies.
Mr Lieberman, his wife Hadassah and son Matthew, jogged and relaxed on a park swing before the debate. Mr Lieberman, wearing a T-shirt that read "Fightin' Joe Lieberman Debate Camp" on the front and "Champ" on the back, said he was looking forward to a "good night" at the debate.
Asked if he planned to be aggressive, Mr Lieberman said: "I'm going to be. Don't force me to sing `I Gotta Be Me'."
Mrs Lynne Cheney, wife of Mr Cheney, told a morning TV show that he was "relaxed and ready" for the debate.
Meanwhile, Mr Gore and Mr Bush both campaigned yesterday in Michigan which is seen as one of the key states in the election. There was still fall-out from their debate on Tuesday night which was watched by 46.5 million viewers.
Mr Bush continued to criticise what he calls Mr Gore's "exaggerations and embellishments" that call his character into question. Mr Bush was referring to several anecdotes which Mr Gore used in this week's debate and have since been shown to be partially false.
"This is a man who's got a record, you know, of sometimes exaggerating to make a point," Mr Bush said. Mr Gore is refusing to dwell on what he calls attacks on his character and insists that issues are more important.
Both candidates are increasing their TV advertising in the swing states in the final phase of the campaign.
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Joe Carroll will report on the US vice-presidential debate on the Irish Times US Election 2000 website in the early hours of this morning. A televised recording of the debate will also be available at: www.ireland.com/special/us-elections/