Dick Cheney said:Cheney: "You've missed a lot of key votes .... Your hometown newspaper has taken to calling you Senator Gone. You've got one of the worst attendance records in the United States Senate. Now, in my capacity as vice president, I am the president of Senate, the presiding officer. I'm up in the Senate most Tuesdays when they're in session. The first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight.''
THE TRUTHEdwards has indeed missed many votes and hearings since he began running for office, notably skipping a vote on energy policy that would have forced him to choose between the competing interests of Iowans and New Hampshire residents. Cheney is on the Hill on Tuesdays, but he is virtually unseen. Cheney attends weekly Republican lunches, and is only on the floor if his constitutional tie-breaking vote is required. Elizabeth Edwards and the Kerry campaign said last night the two men had met at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2001, where Cheney acknowledged Edwards's presence. Edwards also escorted incoming Senator Elizabeth Dole to a swearing-in ceremony in 2003, where Cheney administered the oath of office.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/debates/articles/2004/10/06/fact_checking_the_debate/