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As the election season heats up with just under 40 days remaining until Election Day, Ohio Sen. JD Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are gearing up for the first and only vice presidential debate of this cycle. This pivotal event, organized by CBS News, will occur at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City and be moderated by notable journalists Norah O'Donnell and Margaret Brennan.

Sen. JD Vance has been rigorously preparing for this debate for over a month. According to an insider, his preparation regimen has included "murder board" sessions, involving his wife, advisers, and senior Trump adviser Jason Miller. Vance has concentrated on scrutinizing Gov. Walz’s debate style and policy history. He aims to underscore what he perceives as Walz's left-wing stance during their confrontation. Vance has expressed his intention to outline the Trump-Vance administration's plans for improving American lives by connecting them to relevant policy.

To simulate Gov. Walz’s debating style, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a fellow Minnesotan and Republican, has been standing in for Walz during practice sessions. Emmer, who has known Walz for many years and shares a similar background and age, has dedicated the past month to mimicking Walz’s phrases and mannerisms. Emmer's role is to ensure that Vance is fully prepared for what he will face on the debate stage.

Gov. Tim Walz has also been intensively preparing with a close-knit team of advisers. Some members of this team previously assisted Vice President Kamala Harris during her debates. For Walz, whose national recognition has recently started to grow, the debate is an opportunity to introduce himself to a broader audience while promoting Harris's vision for the country. Walz intends to focus on issues that impact everyday Americans, emphasizing the need for factual discourse.

In preparation for debating Vance, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been standing in as Vance during Walz's practice sessions. Buttigieg, also relatively close in age to Vance, provided similar support to Harris during her 2020 debates.

The debate, which will run for 90 minutes, will commence at 9 p.m. ET on October 1. CBS News 24/7 will begin its coverage at 4 p.m. ET, and the debate will also be available for streaming on CBS News 24/7, Paramount+, and across other broadcast and cable networks.