In an ongoing effort to finalize the terms for their anticipated debate, Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican JD Vance recently engaged in their first conversation as opposing candidates, according to sources familiar with the matter. While Harris has agreed to participate in a debate on CBS News, the two sides have yet to reach an agreement regarding the network partner and format.

The potential dates for the debate have been set for either July 23 or Aug. 13, and Harris has expressed her willingness to participate on either of those dates. However, it remains unclear whether Vance shares the same sentiment, as discussions between the two camps have not included specifics regarding the debate.

Former President Donald Trump, on behalf of his then-unnamed running mate, had previously agreed to the same dates, but for a debate on Fox News. Biden's team has indicated that they would reject a debate on Fox News, prompting the need to establish new terms.

With Trump's selection of Vance as the GOP vice presidential nominee, discussions are expected to commence regarding the network partner and debate format. In a congratulatory voicemail to Vance, Harris urged him to accept the CBS debate, emphasizing the importance of engaging in a respectful and substantive dialogue.

During their initial conversation, which took place after Vance returned Harris' call, the two candidates exchanged pleasantries but did not delve into the specifics of the debate agreement. Both sides, however, expressed their desire to engage in a debate.

The stakes for the running mates' potential faceoff are raised by recent events, including President Joe Biden's debate mishap last month, an attempted assassination of Trump over the weekend, and the advanced age of both presidential candidates. Harris' campaign spokesman, TJ Ducklo, confirmed their acceptance of CBS News' proposal for a debate and conveyed their confidence in Harris' performance.

On the Democratic side, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren expressed her anticipation for the debate, emphasizing Harris's strengths and economic issues as crucial focal points. Trump's consideration of finding a strong opponent against Harris played a role in his selection of Vance, as the Ohio senator's impressive performance during the contentious 2022 Senate campaign caught Trump's attention and ultimately secured his endorsement.

While Vance's stance on the proposed CBS debate dates is yet to be known, Trump's campaign did not respond to inquiries regarding Vance's agreement to participate. Trump initially proposed hosting the debate at Virginia State University, which was intended to be the first time a historically Black college or university hosted a presidential debate. Democratic Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia have encouraged the candidates to consider the university as a potential venue for the debate.

CBS, being the network of choice for the Biden team, will likely host the debate in one of their studios. While no immediate resolution has been achieved, the ongoing discussions between the Harris and Vance camps indicate a commitment to conducting a vigorous and substantive debate in the near future.