By VALERIE METREJEAN

Staff Writer

The presidential debate last week made big news around the nation, but what about the vice presidential debate between Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John Edwards on Oct. 5?

A informal poll of 30 students, conducted by the Tech Talk staff, showed that two-thirds of the students do believe the vice presidential debate will impact the election.

Yet, few people, when asked about the vice presidential debate, did not even know there had been such a thing.

It is no surprise to Josh Vines, a sophomore kinesiology major, that so many people missed the vice presidential debate.

"It was not played up by the media as much as the presidential election therefore, it did not seem important," Vines said.

"People just do not vote based on the vice president."

Pat Dunn, a junior marketing major, said he felt differently about the debate's importance.

"It won't make a huge difference, but for those undecided people out there, it gave them a chance to hear how each party would run the country, because the vice presidential candidates represent the presidential candidates' opinion, too," Dunn said. "If something happens to our president, one of these men has to run the country, and I'd say that is important."

Dunn said he felt for those who are already set in their decision, it just proves their point more.

The few people who watched the vice presidential debate were among the students polled who believed the debate could affect the election.

Despite polls awarding the debate victory to Cheney, both opponents had their moments of triumph and failure in this debate.

So, how does this debate get any citizen closer to figuring out who they will vote for Nov. 2?

Dr. Jason Pigg, an assistant professor of political science, said this election would not be affected much by the outcome of the vice presidential debate.

"Without any clear winner of the debate, it really will not make much of an impact," Pigg said.

He also said the debate has not affected any elections in the past.

Pigg said the only way the debate could affect the election was if a candidate made a big mistake.

He said that did not happen, and "They both achieved what they set out to do."