With only a few hours to the vice presidential debate, Republican candidate Mike Pence has an uphill task as he faces his Democratic counterpart Tim Kaine Tuesday night.
Pence will firstly have to perform a clean-up job as Trump's struggles to recover from one of the most turbulent weeks of his presidential campaign, according to the Washington Examiner.
Apart from displaying his role as a conservative leader, Pence needs to stop Trump voters from tilting towards Hillary Clinton's side after a week marred with controversies related to former Miss Universe Alicia Machado, tax returns, and The New York Times' endorsement of Clinton.
"He (Pence) could either be our man inside a Trump administration," a Republican strategist said. "Or an early 2020 front-runner."
Pence has often had to smooth over and ease the friction created by the Republican presidential nominee at rallies, speeches, or social media.
Few Republicans have urged Pence to defend conservative policies and themes even if it contradicts the billionaire businessman's ideologies.
On Monday, former Jeb Bush chief strategist and Mitt Romney adviser David Kochel argued Pence should not give in to Trump on his tweets and tax returns.
"Win or lose in November," Kochel wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed. "Mr. Pence could preserve his brand for future campaigns."
"Showing his independence wouldn't just be good for the voters; it could also be great for Mike Pence," he added. "He could win back some respect from people who think he made a mistake in joining this ticket. And he could make a critical difference for the ticket he represents."
Republican strategist Sarah Isgur Flores tweeted that Pence should go ahead and prove Trump wrong:
Democrats believe Pence has mostly been covering-up for Trump's controversies.
"The problem for Mike Pence is his job in this campaign is apologist-in-chief, and he's the guy who has to keep trying to explain the unexplainable," Claire McCaskill, Democratic Senator from Missouri, told Politico.
Kaine is known to be a center-left politician who complements Clinton and the Democratic Party's ideologies. On the other hand, Pence is the flag bearer for the conservative movement which Trump is not.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, who had hesitated endorsing Trump, was confident about Pence.
"We need someone who is steady and secure in his principles, someone who can cut through the noise and make a compelling case for conservatism," Ryan was quoted in the Washington Examiner. "Mike Pence is that man."
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who dropped out of the presidential race in March, had good things to say about Pence:
Despite all efforts, things could end on a bad note for Pence. Though Trump has overcome all his current problems and given Clinton a tough fight as most polls show, Pence has a lot to prove during this debate than his rival Kaine.
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