Vice presidential debate transcript: live updates from Tim Kaine and Mike Pence’s face-off

The first and only vice presidential debate is here: Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate, and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Donald Trump’s running mate, face off Tuesday in an attempt to defend their parties’ presidential tickets.

The 90-minute debate — no commercial breaks — will be held at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, the state where Kaine has served as both governor and senator, and will be moderated by CBS News anchor Elaine Quijano, the first Asian-American moderator of a presidential or vice presidential debate.

In a typical election year, vice presidential debates usually draw less attention than presidential ones — with the notable exception of Joe Biden and Sarah Palin in 2008 — but the abnormal nature of this year's two frontrunners has raised interest in Tuesday’s debates, as voters wait to see what Clinton and Trump’s running mates have to say about them.

Both vice presidential candidates are tasked with staying on message — but it might be an easier job for Kaine, who largely shares Clinton’s worldview, than for Pence, who has a substantial record of disagreeing with some of Trump’s core proposals.

And especially after the week Trump has had since the first presidential debate — losing the debate, starting a feud with a former Miss Universe, being the subject of several damning reports about his personal finances, and going uncontrollably off script at a recent campaign rally — eyes will be on Pence to explain why voters should look past the swath of negative coverage surrounding the Trump campaign.

Vox will run a live rush transcript of Tuesday’s debate below the live stream.

---

Source: http://ift.tt/2dZwHgt