LIVE: Mike Pence and Tim Kaine battle in VP debate

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine are set to square off Tuesday at Longwood University in Virginia in the only vice presidential debate of the 2016 election.

Observers expect Kaine to hammer Pence over running mate Donald Trump's various controversial statements and policy positions, while Pence is expected to deflect criticism and focus on Hillary Clinton's shortcomings.

With no specific policy topics outlined, the debate will be divided up into nine, 10-minute segments about a range of topics.

Both candidates have been prepping for the debate for weeks.

Pence enlisted Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to play Kaine in debate prep, while Kaine faced off against experienced debate stand-in Robert Barnett, a high-powered lawyer from Washington, DC.

The debate begins at 9 p.m. ET.

Watch the debate below:

Live updates:

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