Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, and Ohio Senator JD Vance, a Republican, are preparing for their first and likely only vice presidential debate, which will be hosted by CBS News. This marks the first time the two will directly confront one another in a debate, though they’ve exchanged sharp criticisms on the campaign trail. Vance has questioned Walz’s military experience, while Walz has frequently described both the senator and former President Trump as “weird.”

Scheduled to start at 9 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, the debate will take place in CBS’s New York office. The event will be moderated by CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell alongside Margaret Brennan, the host of “Face the Nation.” Both candidates’ teams have agreed to the debate rules, which CBS announced on Friday.

From the viewer’s perspective, Walz will be positioned on the right side of the stage, while Vance will stand on the left. Since Walz represents the incumbent party, he will be introduced first by the moderators. Both candidates will remain behind their podiums throughout the entire 90-minute event.

Like the earlier debate between former President Trump and Vice President Harris, this event will not feature opening statements or a live audience. According to CBS, there will be two four-minute breaks during the debate.

The candidates will be allotted two minutes to answer each question. After one candidate speaks, their opponent will have two minutes to respond. Each will then have an additional minute to make a rebuttal, as stated in CBS’s guidelines. A countdown clock will be visible to the candidates to track their speaking time.

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During the debate, the moderators will remain seated. CBS retains the ability to mute the candidates’ microphones if necessary, though they will remain active unless muted.

The use of prewritten notes and props is prohibited, though both candidates will be provided with a pen, paper, and water. Additionally, no staff members will be allowed to interact with the candidates during breaks.

In the final segment, both Vance and Walz will deliver closing statements, each lasting two minutes. Having won a coin toss on Thursday, Vance chose to speak second, giving him the opportunity to have the last word.

{Matzav.com}