The two candidates are preparing for their big showdown [Reuters]

As Joe Biden and Sarah Palin prepare to hold their first and only vice-presidential debate, Al Jazeera spoke to students at Washington University in St Louis, where the debate is to be held.

They spoke about their hopes for the debate, the election race and what they expect from the next US president. 

I watched the debate last week and was really impressed, as an Obama supporter, by his performance and I’m hoping Biden can keep that momentum going.

Regarding the tactics, I'm hoping Biden will try to appear more reasonable than he usually does, he is kind of a loose cannon and hopefully he'll change that perception of him. I think Palin will try to be a little more specific and make it seem like she's on her game. 

It's been really exciting and the whole campus is fully of energy and it's really fun to have people excited about something political.

I would say that the economy is huge for us; our economy is falling apart and it wasn't until Bush actually said 'we're in trouble' that people got it.

I don't know much about Biden although I know a little about his foreign policy, but I'll be looking to see how Palin is running when she doesn't know anything.

I believe in the Democrats. The problem with Republicans is they always talk about tax cuts for the middle class. I'm Muslim and I've had all the privileges that the middle class has to offer, but I feel like it's disappearing and that's a huge problem.

I'm interested to see what Biden has to offer. There's a lot of stuff to talk about regarding the economy, regarding healthcare. I want to be a doctor and it's the fact that every American is entitled to healthcare but we don't talk about it and every American should have it.

Biden is also extremely unpredictable so I'm a little worried about what he might say. Personally I’m an Obama-Biden supporter and I'm afraid that he might come off as harsh, or condescending.

As well as the financial crisis and the war in Iraq definitely healthcare [is a big issue] and I'd like to find more about what Sarah Palin thinks about those things as I really don't know.

Economic reform is probably the most important issue right now because of all the banks failing, and the government bailout.

I like Palin although she wasn't my top choice, I was hoping for Mike Huckabee [but] it seems like she's a good conservative balance for John McCain's liberal leanings.

I'm really eager to see what Senator Joe Biden has to say about foreign policy, especially because he has so much experience in that area. 

Palin's experience is going to be a big issue and it's one of the drawbacks that she has. She is a governor of Alaska, but Biden has been around the block a few times and he's going to use that to his advantage.

The economy and how we're going to deal with the recession and the bailout tactics is important to me, Senator McCain even suspended his campaign in order to deal with it, so I'd like them to bring that up.

I also want them to bring up their tactics in the Middle East in Iraq, the issue is whether we should stay and how long we should stay there and both parties have an interesting approach and I'm interested in seeing whether we will actually be able to pull out and how early.

The financial crisis and bailout are big issues of course, I'd also like to hear them talk about the war, and see what Palin has to say on that. I think they are probably going to be attacking the other candidates more than each other.

I'd also like to hear some stuff on the domestic issues, healthcare, social issues such as gay marriage and abortion, also education, something more in depth on both sides.

I'm independent as I don't like to be labelled and I don't quite agree with Obama's socialised economics policies - you get to complain about both sides and people will listen to you, but I will go for one of the major candidates not a third party.

I was considering them both and then Palin being nominated made it a really easy choice not to vote for that [Republican] ticket. The way the media can't touch her is scary, and I'd like more transparency. She just doesn’t have a lot of substance, but I guess we'll see tonight.