VP Debate 2016: What To Expect From First & Only Face-Off Between Tim Kaine & Mike Pence [VIDEO]
With just over one month to go before Americans head to the polls and elect either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump as President of the United States, their Vice-Presidential picks, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia and Indiana Governor Mike Pence will take their turns to discuss the biggest issues of the campaign in the first (and only) Vice-Presidential debate of the campaign season.
The debate, which will take place at Longwood University in Virginia tonight, is the only chance the two men who are vying for a chance to be second-in-command for the country will have to voice their issues and try to swing voters towards their running mates. Here's what we should expect to watch for during the debate:
Pence Trying To Restore Some Of The Damages Inflicted On Trump Recently
Pence has previously broken away from some of the tactics Trump has used throughout the campaign, instead toting more of his own Conservative record, but now, especially after Trump's tough week following his dismal performance at his first debate with Clinton, his Twitter comments about Alicia Machado, and the unauthorized release of his tax returns which showed he may have gotten out of paying taxes for over two decades, Pence has an uphill battle when it comes to not only defending his running mate, but proving he has what it takes to be a qualified President and present the right image.
Some Personal Attacks
There's no question the race will only continue to get uglier as it gets closer to election day, with both Trump and Clinton slinging nasty comments and past indiscretions at one another to play up the concerns some voters have about each one, in the hopes that emphasizing the negatives will sway undecided voters more to their side. It wouldn't be unheard of to think that Pence and Kaine will lay the groundwork for some of these arguments, especially Pence, who can bring up points about Clinton that Trump failed to address, like Benghazi.
Attempts To Make Their Respective Tickets More Likeable
Outside of the staunch supporters on each side, both Clinton and Trump are among the two most disliked canddiates by a major party for a Presidential election in some time. Clinton is currently seeing an average 53 percent unfavorable rating in polls (versus 42 percent favorable), while Trump polls at 57 percent unfavorable and 37 percent favorable. Both Kaine and Pence are considered to be less controversial choices for the VP candidates and softer sides of their campaigns. If they can each come across as more likeable than their running mates, they could help swing the election more in their favors.
The debate begins at 9 p.m.