The second round presidential debate looked for a while more like a two-man show instead of three, with two candidates engaging in lively arguments while the third remained quiet in the corner.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla stole the show on Thursday night, returning to his more spontaneous style this time round, with his usual jokes thrown around more than the during the first debate last week.

His criticism of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, delivered in an easy, half-joking half-serious style, successfully broke the ice and prompted responses from the incumbent President.

Both the incumbents engaged in lively yet warm arguments, leaving former president Megawati Soekarnoputri somewhat outcast.

The moderator, economic expert Aviliani, even forgot to give Megawati her turn to respond to a

question, as she was so absorbed in the comical banter between SBY and Kalla.

“I’m sorry, Pak SBY,” Kalla said, when responding to a question on imports and inflation.

Kalla said he didn’t agree with SBY's Indomie commercial, referring to an instant noodle commercial that was transformed into SBY's campaign commercial, complete with a rewritten jingle.

“If we eat too much Indomie, then we will have to import more wheat,” Kalla said, prompting laughter from the audience.

A seemingly reserved Yudhoyono replied jokingly, “Maybe Pak JK eats [noodles] that consist of 100 percent wheat. But me, I eat Indomie that is mixed with sago and cassava.”

Soon after it was break time, and both the incumbents shook hands and laughed while approaching their resting seats.

In the debate Kalla took a swipe at the amended, controversial labor law issued under the then president Megawati.

The “unique” law, he said, was resented by businesses because of costly severance pays, and also by workers because it permitted outsourcing.

“That was because you were working with me,” Megawati said.

“I worked well while I was with you, didn't I, Bu?” Kalla replied, laughing.

“Of course you didn’t,” Megawati said, sparking another episode of laughter among the audience.

Thursday night's debate, broadcast live from the studios of MetroTV, was themed “Eradicating poverty and unemployment”.

Megawati, who spoke in her usual normative and political-jargon style, said Indonesians needed to work hand-in-hand to fight poverty and revitalize the  development of rural areas.

More than once she referred to the traditional custom of mutual help or gotong royong.

Yudhoyono, citing comprehensive data, presented his five-year poverty eradication programs, which included economic development and “pro-people” programs such as direct cash assistance and a health insurance scheme for the poor.

Kalla, who was the only one walking about, said that while improving people’s incomes was necessary, ensuring that their spending would not rise by maintaining price stability was also central to eradicating poverty.

Both the incumbents promised economic growth and a reduction of the unemployment rate if they were elected.

By this third round of the presidential and vice presidential debates, public interest had seemingly waned, following unfulfilled promises from organizers and campaign teams that debates would be livelier.

At the Cilandak Town Square in South Jakarta, a few tuned into the live broadcasts while others watched HBO.

However, at least one cafe patron, Michael Jeno, said the quality of the debates had improved.

“The debates are now more focused on the thoughts of the presidential candidates.

“In the first debate the audience had no way of differentiating the performance of one candidate from another.”

Another said they were all “just playing safe”.

Both, however said the candidates “had better remember their promises if they get re-elected”.

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