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| Vice-Presidential Candidates to Debate as Clinton Extends Lead in Pennsylvania | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The debate on Tuesday night between Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia and Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana may not rival the drama of last week’s face-off between the candidates at the top of the ticket, but it could matter more than other vice-presidential contests. The debate comes at a critical point in the presidential race, with Donald J. Trump reeling from a disastrous week and a new poll showing Hillary Clinton extending her lead in Pennsylvania. | |
| Against that backdrop, two genial and comparatively laid-back politicians, who share a deep religious faith that has shaped their careers, will meet onstage at Longwood University in Farmville, Va., for what will be their only face-to-face of the campaign. For many voters, it might be the first time they have heard from either man since the party conventions this summer. | |
| A Monmouth University survey of Pennsylvania, an important swing state, released on Tuesday found 50 percent of likely voters supporting Mrs. Clinton and 40 percent backing Mr. Trump. In August, Mrs. Clinton held an eight-point lead in Pennsylvania, but an avalanche of political advertising on behalf of her campaign has started to have an effect. | |
| The Monmouth poll attributed Mrs. Clinton’s growing lead to a shift in support from white women, who now back her over Mr. Trump, 55 percent to 35 percent. Previously, the two candidates were deadlocked with that group. | |
| Voters are increasingly seeing Mrs. Clinton as relatable, and, despite Mr. Trump’s claims that he has the best temperament, she is leading him two-to-one in Pennsylvania when it comes to who is seen as having a better temperament to be president. | |
| Some other things we will be watching on Tuesday: | |
| Do not let their physical presence onstage fool you: These two men may serve more as stand-ins for their running mates than as combatants in their own right. | Do not let their physical presence onstage fool you: These two men may serve more as stand-ins for their running mates than as combatants in their own right. |
| In a conventional race, the vice-presidential candidates might engage in a thorough discussion of each other’s records. But in a campaign defined by two larger-than-life presidential nominees, Mr. Kaine and Mr. Pence are more likely to punch upward, with Mr. Kaine prosecuting the case against Mr. Trump’s temperament and character, and Mr. Pence pressing the message that Mrs. Clinton cannot change Washington the way Mr. Trump can. | In a conventional race, the vice-presidential candidates might engage in a thorough discussion of each other’s records. But in a campaign defined by two larger-than-life presidential nominees, Mr. Kaine and Mr. Pence are more likely to punch upward, with Mr. Kaine prosecuting the case against Mr. Trump’s temperament and character, and Mr. Pence pressing the message that Mrs. Clinton cannot change Washington the way Mr. Trump can. |
| Mr. Pence can expect to be challenged on Mr. Trump’s denigrating comments about Alicia Machado, a former Miss Universe; on Mr. Trump’s attacks on Mrs. Clinton’s marriage; and on the prospect that Mr. Trump may have gone nearly two decades without paying federal income taxes. And those are just the hits from last week. | Mr. Pence can expect to be challenged on Mr. Trump’s denigrating comments about Alicia Machado, a former Miss Universe; on Mr. Trump’s attacks on Mrs. Clinton’s marriage; and on the prospect that Mr. Trump may have gone nearly two decades without paying federal income taxes. And those are just the hits from last week. |
| Up to this point, Mr. Pence has proved adept at deflecting questions about Mr. Trump’s incendiary comments, redirecting interviews to rote talking points about shaking up Washington. But a debate is an entirely different format; and as Senator Marco Rubio of Florida found, using the same dodge over and over again can have catastrophic consequences. | Up to this point, Mr. Pence has proved adept at deflecting questions about Mr. Trump’s incendiary comments, redirecting interviews to rote talking points about shaking up Washington. But a debate is an entirely different format; and as Senator Marco Rubio of Florida found, using the same dodge over and over again can have catastrophic consequences. |
| The vice presidency is one of the most prominent positions in politics, and one of the least defined. Presidents and vice presidents have enormous latitude to shape the role. The debate is the best chance Mr. Kaine and Mr. Pence have to set out their expectations for the job before one of them takes office. | The vice presidency is one of the most prominent positions in politics, and one of the least defined. Presidents and vice presidents have enormous latitude to shape the role. The debate is the best chance Mr. Kaine and Mr. Pence have to set out their expectations for the job before one of them takes office. |
| The Democratic ticket in this race has been more clear in setting out a vision for the vice presidency: Mrs. Clinton has said she chose Mr. Kaine to be a full partner in government, and he has talked about being a close counselor to Mrs. Clinton if she is elected. | The Democratic ticket in this race has been more clear in setting out a vision for the vice presidency: Mrs. Clinton has said she chose Mr. Kaine to be a full partner in government, and he has talked about being a close counselor to Mrs. Clinton if she is elected. |
| For Mr. Pence, there is more space left to fill in on the page. Mr. Trump said he selected the governor in large part to unify the Republican Party, but neither Republican has offered a clear vision for how Mr. Pence would function in government, an important question, particularly given Mr. Trump’s lack of experience in office. | For Mr. Pence, there is more space left to fill in on the page. Mr. Trump said he selected the governor in large part to unify the Republican Party, but neither Republican has offered a clear vision for how Mr. Pence would function in government, an important question, particularly given Mr. Trump’s lack of experience in office. |
| In the first debate between Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton, there was no discussion of abortion, contraception, gay rights or religious liberty — issues that define so much of American politics. In part, that is because Mr. Trump has never shown much enthusiasm for these issues. Mr. Pence and Mr. Kaine are different. | In the first debate between Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton, there was no discussion of abortion, contraception, gay rights or religious liberty — issues that define so much of American politics. In part, that is because Mr. Trump has never shown much enthusiasm for these issues. Mr. Pence and Mr. Kaine are different. |
| A Christian conservative, Mr. Pence is a longtime opponent of abortion and a champion of defunding Planned Parenthood. As governor, he signed and then scaled back an Indiana law that was widely criticized as opening the door to discrimination against gay men and lesbians by private businesses. While Mr. Kaine, a liberal Catholic, has ample opportunities to brand Mr. Pence as being too far to the right, he may also have to defend his strong opposition to the death penalty and mixed views on abortion. | A Christian conservative, Mr. Pence is a longtime opponent of abortion and a champion of defunding Planned Parenthood. As governor, he signed and then scaled back an Indiana law that was widely criticized as opening the door to discrimination against gay men and lesbians by private businesses. While Mr. Kaine, a liberal Catholic, has ample opportunities to brand Mr. Pence as being too far to the right, he may also have to defend his strong opposition to the death penalty and mixed views on abortion. |
| In a brutal political contest between candidates who hurl insults and point fingers, Mr. Pence and Mr. Kaine have tended to take a different approach. They have been forceful advocates of their running mates, but both men have been likened to sitcom dads for their good humor and overall gentleness — especially, in Mr. Pence’s case, in contrast to the Republican presidential nominee. | In a brutal political contest between candidates who hurl insults and point fingers, Mr. Pence and Mr. Kaine have tended to take a different approach. They have been forceful advocates of their running mates, but both men have been likened to sitcom dads for their good humor and overall gentleness — especially, in Mr. Pence’s case, in contrast to the Republican presidential nominee. |
| The debate on Tuesday will put those nice-guy images to their most strenuous test. It could potentially be a surreal viewing experience, after the rowdy first presidential debate, to see the records and credentials of Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton picked over in a well-mannered conversation. But even nice guys hit their limits, and a nationally televised debate might represent just that moment for Mr. Pence or Mr. Kaine. | The debate on Tuesday will put those nice-guy images to their most strenuous test. It could potentially be a surreal viewing experience, after the rowdy first presidential debate, to see the records and credentials of Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton picked over in a well-mannered conversation. But even nice guys hit their limits, and a nationally televised debate might represent just that moment for Mr. Pence or Mr. Kaine. |
| Take our quiz. | Take our quiz. |
| ■ Start time: 9 p.m. Eastern | ■ Start time: 9 p.m. Eastern |
| ■ Duration: About 90 minutes | ■ Duration: About 90 minutes |
| ■ Moderator: Elaine Quijano of CBS News | ■ Moderator: Elaine Quijano of CBS News |
| ■ Airing on TV: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, Fox Business Network, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC and others. | ■ Airing on TV: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, Fox Business Network, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC and others. |
| ■ Streaming online: We think nytimes.com is a pretty good place to turn to. | ■ Streaming online: We think nytimes.com is a pretty good place to turn to. |