Asked to explain his administration's position barring homosexual marriages, Cheney, whose daughter Mary is a lesbian, said, "People ought to be free to choose any arrangement they want. It's really no one else's business.
"[But] that's a separate question from the issue of whether or not government should sanction or approve or give some sort of authorization, if you will, to these relationships."
"I believe marriage is between a man and a woman and so does John Kerry," agreed Edwards, while lauding Cheney and his wife for their public support of Mary.
"I also believe that there should be partnership benefits for gay and lesbian couples in long-term, committed relationships. But we should not use the Constitution to divide this country," he said.
"No state for the last 200 years has ever had to recognise another state's marriage. This is using the Constitution as a political tool, and it's wrong."
Vice-President Cheney with wife Lynne acknowledge the audience. Inset: Edwards with wife Elizabeth, daughter Emma Claire, 5, and son Jack, 3.
Photographs: STEPHEN JAFFE/AFP/Getty Images and Alex Wong/Getty Images)