Walz v Vance Fiery debate likely as Republican tries to shrug off recent woes

The football coach and "Yale law guy" go head-to-head in New York City tomorrow night, as two midwesterners with very different styles and messages slug it out over the future of the US.

- Ed Pilkington

Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, faces the Republican senator from Ohio, JD Vance, in a vice-presidential debate that promises to be unusually significant. They will joust for 90 minutes under the moderation of CBS News as they seek to give their respective running mates - Kamala Harris and Donald Trump - a leg up to the White House.

Walz has been prepping for the debate in Minneapolis with Vance's role taken by the US transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg. Vance has been holding mock debates with the Republican whip in the US House, Tom Emmer, standing in as Walz. Emmer is a fellow Minnesotan, so has the benefit of having studied Walz up close.

The two running mates bring contrasting strengths to the ring.

Vance is an experienced debater who will relish confrontation under the glare of the TV lights. "Look, he's a Yale law guy," Walz has said.

"He'll come well prepared." Walz by contrast will be able to lean on skills learned in the school classroom. Walz spent 17 years as a state school teacher, so he knows how to think on his feet - and deal with a disruptive kid.

"I expect to see a very heated debate," Robby Mook, Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign manager, told CBS News.