Pence V Kaine: Everything to Expect From the 2016 Vice-Presidential Debate

Mike Pence, Tim Kaine (Getty Images combo).

By Jerry Shaw | Tuesday, 04 October 2016 08:04 AM EDT

Tuesday night's vice-presidential debate between the GOP's Mike Pence and Democrat Tim Kaine may not pack the punch of a Donald Trump-Hillary Clinton match-up, but it's still an important factor in the presidential race.

Pence, Trump’s running mate and the governor of Indiana, has more than a decade of experience in Congress, according to Politico. Kaine, Clinton’s running mate and a U.S. senator from Virginia, once served as his state’s governor.

The 90-minute debate starts at 9 p.m. EST from Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, and will be moderated by CBS News’ Elaine Quijano.

Here are seven things to expect from the vice-presidential candidates.

1. Kaine has been known to have a low-key personality, but he can respond to criticism or attacks when necessary, according to Politico. Pence may hammer away at the uncertain economy many Americans still face, utilizing Trump’s campaign promise to “make America great again.”

2. Both candidates are likely to go after their opponent's running mate with Pence attacking Hillary’s scandals or her failures as secretary of state and Kaine raising questions about Trump’s abilities to lead a nation.

3. Republicans hope Pence can put on a better performance than Trump during the first presidential debate, The Washington Times notes. Democratic strategists want Kaine to reinforce Clinton’s performance, which some polls said was stronger.

4. Both Kaine and Pence could spend a good deal of time on Clinton. Kaine might have to defend questions Pence presents on Hillary’s role with her private email server while secretary of state or questions about foreign donors to the Clinton Foundation.

5. Health issues regarding both presidential candidates could take center stage because Pence or Kaine could become president should something happen to the commander-in-chief.

6. Pence could bring up Clinton’s comments about Trump supporters being a “basket of deplorables” while Kaine will likely point out Trump’s comments on women, according to USA Today.

7. The leaking of Trump’s 1995 tax records by The New York Times this week could become a focus of the VP debate. Kaine would likely highlight the possibility that Trump may not have paid taxes for nearly two decades because of a $916 million loss. Pence, meanwhile, would reiterate how Trump simply followed the tax code while paying property, real estate, sales, city, and state taxes.