Cheney dismisses idea Limbaugh is bad for the Republican party

WASHINGTON -- A debate between President Obama and Rush Limbaugh? If it ever happens, Dick Cheney will be in line for a ticket.

"I'd pay to see that," the former vice president said Sunday.

The radio talk-show host and Cape Girardeau native challenged Obama to a debate after administration officials criticized him for his comments on the new president's economic plans and for saying he hopes Obama fails.

In an interview Sunday on CNN's "State of the Nation," Cheney said he disagrees with former Bush administration speechwriter David Frum's assessment that Limbaugh is "kryptonite" because he drives voters away from the GOP.

"Rush is a good friend. I love him. I think he does great work and has for years," Cheney said. "I think Rush is a good man and serves a very important purpose."

On his nationally syndicated program earlier this month, Limbaugh said: "I am offering President Obama to come on this program -- without staffers, without a TelePrompter, without note cards -- to debate me on the issues. Let's talk about free markets versus government control. Let's talk about nationalizing health care and raising taxes on small business."