US Presidential Elections: Democratic VP candidate raises debate expectations for Hillary Clinton

Washington: Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine has predicted that his running mate Hillary Clinton would "shine" during Monday's presidential debate, while her Republican rival Donald Trump would fumble when asked about specifics.

Trump and Clinton will face off in the first of three scheduled presidential debates on Monday night at the Hofstra University on Long Island, New York.

"When the lights are bright like they are now she brings the A-plus game. She'll be very, very good tomorrow. Donald Trump's a performer and an entertainer, I'm not taking that away from him," Kaine said at the Miami-Dade College on Sunday. 

"But he can't get away with the 15-second thing and then walking away. … No, it's 90 minutes,"

The Virginia senator himself acknowledged that things had gotten closer than many Democrats had hoped, repeatedly calling Clinton's lead "narrow". But he also suggested that Monday night could change all that.

"You're going to see him have to get into specifics and Hillary too. But we're going to see who can answer the specific questions. I mean Donald Trump hasn't answered a basic question that's been asked of presidential candidates: show us your tax returns," Kaine said. 

"Donald Trump's had problems with the specifics so far, tomorrow night we're going to see: Can he give some specifics?"

Kaine barely mentioned Mike Pence, Trump's running mate, even though the two will debate at Longwood University, Farmville, Virginia on October 4.