ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry told his running mate Sen. John Edwards that he did a "spectacular job" in his debate with Vice President Dick Cheney on Tuesday, giving the country a clear choice on Election Day.

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Listen In On Kerry's Call To Edwards After Debate

Sitting on a couch at the Inverness Hotel in a blue shirt with his sleeves rolled up, Kerry told Edwards in a telephone call shortly after the debate ended that the country got a chance to see Edwards at work.

"I've got to tell you something. The country tonight got a chance to feel the confidence that I have, and now they have confidence. They felt the strength. They felt the clarity," he said.

Kerry told Edwards that he was also very strong on correcting the facts.

"They keep distorting them and I want the word going out just taking on those distortions. These guys can only resort to fear and distortion and they are unwilling to live with the truth. You held them accountable. You did a great job," Kerry told Edwards.

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Kerry said Cheney had no answer about his former company, Halliburton. He had no answer to charges the Bush administration has catered to drug companies and "he had no answer about the unfairness of the their taxes," Kerry told Edwards.

Kerry said Cheney was inconsistent with the facts.

"We're going to have a tremendous opportunity and a terrific opportunity to continue to talk about the truth," he said.

"You did wonderfully. We're so proud of you. You did a spectacular job," Kerry said.

Kerry is in Colorado to prepare for his debate on Friday against President George W. Bush. Kerry is working on customizing his style to accommodate the town hall format.

This is Kerry's fifth trip to Colorado during the campaign, a sign he sees the Republican-leaning state within his grasp.

Pollster Floyd Ciruli said Kerry's strong performance in last week's debate put Colorado back in play, even though Republicans have a voter registration advantage and Bush easily won the state four years ago.

Eric Marshall, who watched the debate intently on a television in an alcove at the hotel just south of Denver, said he was not impressed with either candidate.

"They're both trying to politicize the questions," he complained.

Volunteers working on the Bush-Cheney campaign stopped their fund-raising efforts briefly to watch the debate at their Republican headquarters in Highlands Ranch. Afterward, they declared that Cheney had won.

Ken Kramer, a former Colorado congressman and a former colleague of Cheney's, said the vice president erased any doubts left by the first presidential debate.

"What happened tonight is that the vice president put a very calming effect on a very difficult situation. It certainly helped to raise the confidence level in this administration," said Kramer.

In Canon City, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Larry Allen wasn't impressed with Edwards.

"He's a new kid on the block," he told the Canon City Daily Record. "He doesn't have the experience. He's only served four years and two of those he's spent campaigning."

Even Democrats were lukewarm on Edwards' performance.

"It wasn't like last week where I thought it was a slam dunk," said Pat Freda of Canon City.

Debbie Bodine, an unaffiliated voter from Castle Rock, stopped by to watch part of the debate and said she still has not made up her mind.

She said Kerry made the right decision coming to Colorado to prepare for his debate on Friday.

"I think a lot of Coloradans are undecided now," she said.

State Democratic Party chairman Chris Gates said Bush cannot afford to take Colorado voters for granted.

"I think this is proof positive that Colorado is a highly targeted, battleground state," Gates said.

Bush is scheduled to travel to Colorado on Monday to hold a $1,000 a plate fund-raiser for Republican Senate candidate Peter Coors.

State Republican Party chairman Ted Halaby said he doubts Kerry will get any traction from his latest visit to the state.

"This is going to be a horse race, regardless of the fact that Senator Kerry has chosen Colorado to prepare," Halaby said.

No Coors Or Busch Beer For Kerry

Kerry told a partisan crowd Tuesday, after he landed at Denver International Airport, that his beer options in Colorado are limited.

He said on his plane trip to Denver from Iowa City, the flight attendant on the campaign plane asked him if he would like a Coors beer, which is made in the area.

Kerry said no thanks. Pete Coors, the head of the brewing company, is locked in a bruising race for the Senate with Democrat Ken Salazar.

Kerry told a crowd of supporters last night that his refusal prompted the flight attendant to quip, "so I guess I shouldn't offer you a Busch beer, either."