Vice Presidential Debate Live Updates: JD Vance, Tim Walz to face off in high-stakes Vice Presidential debate

US vice presidential candidates JD Vance and Tim Walz will face off Tuesday in a debate that promises to be a feisty battle to win over voters in middle America, who could decide the cliffhanger 2024 election.

The Republican Ohio senator and the Democratic Minnesota governor make for a study in contrasts and have already traded a series of bad-tempered insults in the bitter race for the White House.

The combative Vance, 40, shares former president Donald Trump's gift for courting controversy, whether by smearing Democrats as "childless cat ladies," spreading bogus stories about pet-eating migrants or questioning his rival's military record.

Walz, 60, is a folksy Midwestern former teacher and high school football coach who was chosen at lightning speed by Vice President Kamala Harris after his attacks on Vance and Trump as "weird" went viral.

The CBS Broadcast Center in New York will be the venue for the upcoming debate. CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell, along with chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan, will serve as moderators for the event. The debate is scheduled to commence at 9 pm ET and will be aired by CBS News.

Since his selection as Donald Trump's running mate, JD Vance has been at the center of media attention, largely due to controversial past statements that have provided ammunition for his opponents. Despite the backlash, Vance has remained steadfast in his position, refusing to back down from his previous remarks.

Vance called into question the military record of his opponent, Tim Walz, accusing him of "stolen valor." Vance claimed that Walz had falsely stated he carried weapons during war, despite never having served in combat. This accusation has further intensified the already heated debate between the two candidates.

With Donald Trump's decision not to participate in any further debates with Kamala Harris, the upcoming debate between Vance and Walz has taken on even greater significance. It represents the final opportunity for the Trump campaign to address and rectify any political missteps, many of which have been attributed to Vance's controversial statements. The stakes are high, and the outcome of this debate could have a substantial impact on the trajectory of the campaign.

During the presidential debate, the microphones of candidates not speaking were silenced to prevent interruptions. However, in the upcoming vice presidential debate, CBS News has decided against muting the microphones of the participants.

Despite this decision, the network has stated that it "reserves the right to mute the candidates' microphones" if deemed necessary. This approach allows for a more natural flow of conversation while still maintaining the ability to control any potential disruptions.

Tim Walz will stand behind the podium on stage left, which is the right side on the screen. JD Vance's podium will be in the opposite side. Tim Walz will be introduced first and there will be no opening statements.The debate will last for 90 minutes with two breaks of four minutes each. Like the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, there will be no live audience in this debate too.

Republican JD Vance and Democrat Tim Walz will face off in the vice presidential debate. The event, which will be held in New York and moderated by CBS News, will bring together the running mates who have spent the past two months criticising each other and the opposing presidential candidates.

While the vice presidential debate may not hold the same level of importance as the September 10 showdown between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, it provides Vance and Walz with a valuable opportunity to introduce themselves to the public, advocate for their running mates, and fulfill the traditional role of a vice presidential candidate: attacking the opposition. The debate will be watched by the largest television and online audience either candidate will encounter before the election on November 5.