Nine Things to Know About the Vice Presidential Debate

A look ahead at the Biden–Ryan showdown.

Their First Showdown - In the only vice presidential debate, Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan will face off for the first time at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Keep reading for a breakdown of what to expect. – Britt Middleton (Photos from left: AP Photo/Madalyn Ruggiero, File, Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Their First Showdown - In the only vice presidential debate, Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan will face off for the first time at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. Keep reading for a breakdown of what to expect. – Britt Middleton (Photos from left: AP Photo/Madalyn Ruggiero, File, Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The Format - The debate will be divided into nine 10-minute segments. Candidates are given two minutes to answer the moderator's opening question, with the moderator using the balance of the time for discussion. The debate will be live-streamed on BET.com and televised on most major news networks from 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. ET. (Photos: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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The Format - The debate will be divided into nine 10-minute segments. Candidates are given two minutes to answer the moderator's opening question, with the moderator using the balance of the time for discussion. The debate will be live-streamed on BET.com and televised on most major news networks from 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. ET. (Photos: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The Moderator - Martha Raddatz is the senior foreign affairs correspondent for ABC News as well as a New York Times best-selling author. Fueling controversy over her impartiality, it was reported that President Obama was a guest at her 1991 nuptials to Julius Genachowski, whom he met while attending Harvard Law School. (Photo: ABC NEWS)

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The Moderator - Martha Raddatz is the senior foreign affairs correspondent for ABC News as well as a New York Times best-selling author. Fueling controversy over her impartiality, it was reported that President Obama was a guest at her 1991 nuptials to Julius Genachowski, whom he met while attending Harvard Law School. (Photo: ABC NEWS)

Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit - The Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit provides an average tax cut of about $800. The president would like Congress to expand the credit to workers who do not have children, including non-custodial parents. The administration believes this will "provide a more meaningful work incentive." (Photo: Jeremy Woodhouse/Getty Images)

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Topics on the Table - Biden and Ryan will square off on the topics of foreign and domestic policy. (Photo: GettyImages)

Talking Experience - Ryan, a seven-term congressman from Wisconsin, will be the second Republican to debate Biden since Sarah Palin in 2008. Before becoming vice president, Biden spent 36 years in the Senate representing the state of Delaware. (Photo: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

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Talking Experience - Ryan, a seven-term congressman from Wisconsin, will be the second Republican to debate Biden since Sarah Palin in 2008. Before becoming vice president, Biden spent 36 years in the Senate representing the state of Delaware. (Photo: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

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Round Two in Danville - Locals have dubbed the debate "Thrill in the 'Ville II," in reference to when the college hosted the 2000 vice presidential debate between Democrat Joe Lieberman and Republican Dick Cheney. (Photo: Heart of Danville)

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Round Two in Danville - Locals have dubbed the debate "Thrill in the 'Ville II," in reference to when the college hosted the 2000 vice presidential debate between Democrat Joe Lieberman and Republican Dick Cheney. (Photo: Heart of Danville)

Getting Exposure  - When Centre College hosted the vice presidential debate in 2000, it was the smallest institution ever chosen to host a televised general election debate. Publicity from that meeting helped aid fundraising efforts and increased student applications by about 20 percent. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Getting Exposure  - When Centre College hosted the vice presidential debate in 2000, it was the smallest institution ever chosen to host a televised general election debate. Publicity from that meeting helped aid fundraising efforts and increased student applications by about 20 percent. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Fighting Fire With Fire - As far as passion goes, the candidates couldn't be better matched. While Biden's off-the-cuff style has made for some memorable gaffes over the years, Ryan has shown in recent interviews that he won’t let pushy reporters twist his arm. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Fighting Fire With Fire - As far as passion goes, the candidates couldn't be better matched. While Biden's off-the-cuff style has made for some memorable gaffes over the years, Ryan has shown in recent interviews that he won’t let pushy reporters twist his arm. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Battleground Stakes - Obama's "bad night" in Colorado, where he and Romney debated domestic policy issues, has turned into a bad week in the polls in key states. According to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll, Romney leads in Virginia (48 to 47 percent). In Florida, the president has a one-point lead (47 to 46 percent), but fares better in Ohio at 51 to 45 percent. (Photo: Rick Wilking-Pool/Getty Images)

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Talk Up Your No. 1 Man - In the end, however, both candidates are expected to keep the focus off themselves and on the credentials of their presidential running mates. Democrats are counting on Biden to make up lost ground after President Obama's lackluster performance in the first presidential debate last week. (Photo: Rick Wilking-Pool/Getty Images)

It's All in the Details - Analysts are expecting Biden to dig into Ryan about his aggressive budget plan, which Mitt Romney has said he wouldn't incorporate in full. It will be Ryan's time to reveal the full methodology to voters, which he has been reluctant to do, telling one reporter recently, "It would take too much time" to delve into specifics.  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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It's All in the Details - Analysts are expecting Biden to dig into Ryan about his aggressive budget plan, which Mitt Romney has said he wouldn't incorporate in full. It will be Ryan's time to reveal the full methodology to voters, which he has been reluctant to do, telling one reporter recently, "It would take too much time" to delve into specifics.  (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)