Biden, Ryan build up each other pre-debate

This week's big event -- so far -- is Thursday's vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan.

And you know what happens when opponents prepare for a debate -- they lower expectations for themselves, and inflate them for the other guy.

"The thing about Congressman Ryan is he's been straightforward up until now about everything ... the significant changes he wants to make," Biden says of the Wisconsin Republican who is running with GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

Ryan has nothing but praise for Barack Obama's vice president: "He's fast on the cuff, he's a witty guy. He knows who he is and he's been doing this for 40 years. So you're not going to rattle Joe Biden."

The two candidates meet Thursday night at Centre College in Danville, Ky.

The vice presidential debate, usually the undercard in a presidential election, takes on more importance this year because of Obama's less-than-sterling performance at last week's debate with Romney.

Obama senior adviser David Axelrod is overseeing Biden's preparation.

As The New York Times puts it, Axelrod and aides will help Biden "avoid Mr. Obama's mistakes and even correct them with a more aggressive prosecution of the Republican ticket. Mr. Axelrod's involvement highlights the stakes the Obama campaign places on the debate, and Mr. Biden has been reading Young Guns, the book co-written by Mr. Ryan, and practicing attack lines that Mr. Obama avoided."

Meanwhile, Ryan -- a potential presidential candidate himself one day -- will look to build on the Republicans debate-fueled momentum.