On October 11, 2012, at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, the Vice Presidential debates will commence under moderator Martha Raddatz. The debate between VP hopefuls Joe Biden and Paul Ryan promises to be lively, featuring two men with very different specialties - one in foreign affairs and the other in economics. This debate, however, will be missing a key element - experts.

How many people in the room that night will know that the airport some of the guests flew into that week might have been Barkley Airport in Paducah, named after Alben Barkley, VP under Truman? How many will know the history of the Vice Presidency like the back of their hand? How many will have questions of their own that don't involve what the running mate has done/would do/wouldn't do? The answer to all of these is likely none. We'd like to change that.

Matt Saxe and Jason Klamm are two of the country's foremost experts on the Vice Presidency. Having studied the office for seven years while producing the first documentary on the office of the Vice Presidency and simultaneously compiling two books on the subject, Saxe and Klamm are eager to have the right questions asked, and they'd be honored to be the ones to ask them.

A critical, if simple question, is often overlooked at these debates - how would you be as a President? We believe that the Vice President should be interviewed for the job he could have to hold at a moment's notice. Not only should be prepared, but he should be a competent leader. The questions at VP debates tend to center more on what has been said, how votes have been cast, and how well the VP can tow the running-mate's line. Saxe and Klamm would like the opportunity to at least pose this critical question to the candidates.

Please sign the petition if you believe the office of the Vice President must be taken more seriously than it is. Even with its growing power, the office is still never treated as the President-in-potentia it really is.