Key rule changes in spotlight for VP debate in New York

NEW YORK (Gray Media) - Vice Presidential candidates Senator JD Vance (R-OH) and Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) will face off in a debate Tuesday moderated by CBS anchors Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan.

Anticipation has been building for the only scheduled debate between the two, set to take place at the CBS Broadcast Center in midtown Manhattan. Much of the rules will be the same as the presidential debates earlier this summer. The 90-minute debate will have no audience, no prewritten notes, no interactions with staff during the two commercial breaks, and no opening statements.

There will be a couple key differences Tuesday night. Unlike the ABC moderators in the Harris-Trump debate, CBS says its moderators will not be fact checking answers, leaving that up to the candidates. Another important change for this debate - microphones will not be muted. This was a point of contention during the presidential debates as some wanted to see full exchanges play out between the candidates on stage. Viewers will be able to hear any out of turn comments Tuesday night, unless moderators decide to shut the microphones off, which they can.

The two candidates, who have been trading barbs on the campaign trail, now come face to face at 9 pm ET Tuesday night.

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