Donald Trump and Mike Pence are a study in contrasts when it comes to their debate preparation.
As the vice presidential candidates prepare to take the stage for a televised debate this Tuesday, a campaign official said GOP vice presidential candidate Mike Pence has been preparing for Tuesday’s debate since the day the Indiana governor received the call to join the Republican ticket in July.
Pence’s debate preparations contrast sharply with the much looser sessions used by Trump in the weeks running up to his first face-off with Hillary Clinton. Trump never practiced against a stand-in for Clinton.
The Indiana governor has been studying “binders” of material on plane rides and has had lengthy debate prep sessions with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, standing in for Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine, the Trump campaign official said.
“He’s glad he doesn’t have to debate Scott Walker,” the official added.
Pence’s public schedule has been lighter this last week, and the governor even flew to Madison, Wisconsin for a few final mock-debate sessions with Walker.
The Pence team “is developing a plan and we are executing that plan” for the debate stage Tuesday, said one aide.
Pence has also been reviewing and refreshing himself with his congressional record, the source said, to defend against any attempts by Kaine to slam the former House Republican turned governor over his time on Capitol Hill.
Another aide to the governor says he’s “put in the hard work” at this point and will be spending this weekend doing “informal preparations” in Indiana and spending time with his family.