NEW YORK — It's the next step in an a contentious election cycle. Tuesday's vice presidential debate comes a little more than a month before ballot boxes start filling up, as the campaigns look to hold their pace.
"The primary objective is to not screw up and not become the focus of attention," said Dr. Dan Mallinson, associate professor of public policy and administration at Penn State Harrisburg.
Mallinson said vice presidential candidates don't typically factor into voter's decisions on election day, but the campaigns are hoping the presidential running mates stick to the message and avoid becoming a distraction.
"A positive debate performance people are probably going to forget, a negative debate performance becomes viral and then becomes a drag on the overall campaign," Mallinson said.
Making matters interesting, the candidates' microphones will not be muted between questions, leaving the door open to verbal sparring on stage.
Mallinson said Sen. JD Vance may want to avoid coming across as too aggressive.
"He certainly has a narrative around him and a profile that he may not want to play into," Mallinson said. "Gov. Walz is a little different in that he doesn't have the same kind of ambition and he's able to put himself forward for the the presidential candidate and the potential administration."
While previous presidential elections included multiple debates from the people at the top of the ticket, the possibility of another presidential debate is up in the air, meaning the vice presidential candidates could have the final say.
"It does potentially raise the stakes if this does become the closing argument," Mallinson said.
You can watch the debate at 9 p.m. on FOX43.