Stage Set For First, Only Vice Presidential Debate

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- The stage is set on the campus of Longwood University in Virginia  for the first and only vice presidential debate of the campaign season.

The event between Indiana Governor Mike Pence and Virginia Senator Tim Kaine will air on CBS tonight at 9pm ET and be moderated by CBSN's Elaine Quijano.

Pence took aim at Hillary Clinton's record as Secretary of State at a campaign event in Virginia - Tim Kaine's home turf.

"Our allies are less secure. Our enemies are more embolden and that all changes the day that Donald Trump becomes president," said Pence.

Both vice presidential nominees are expected to go to great lengths defending their running mates Tuesday night.

It's something Political Science Professor Bill Harbour of Longwood University says could prove harder for Pence.

"Given some of the controversies in the newspapers recently about Trump's tax returns and other issues he's raised about the private lives of various people in public life, I think maybe Mike Pence maybe has a tougher job here in terms of making up for some lost ground," said Harbour.

Pence also sought to make light of Trump's recent controversies last night.

"Now he said this, we can parse that, he tweeted this...and the think they finally got him and then they turn on the television the next day, and Donald Trump is still standing stronger than ever before," said Pence.

Tuesday night's vice presidential showdown comes a little over a week after the first presidential debate. In the first CBS News Poll taken since that debate, Clinton now has a four-point lead nationally over her Republican rival.

During the debate, the Kaine will try to keep the momentum on Clinton's side.

"You know, just gotta be myself," said Kaine.

Clinton and Trump meet for their second presidential debate this Sunday in Missouri.

Clinton has two campaign stops in Pennsylvania Tuesday while Donald Trump campaigns in Colorado and Arizona.

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