>>> we are two days away from biden versus ryan. the next debate this time for the vice president and the man running to replace him, both teams spent today preparing, nbc's ron mott traveling with the republican candidate, paul ryan .
>> today congressman paul ryan sparred again with his debate partner inside this florida hotel. preparing to square off thursday against joe biden .
>> we think he's probably going to come at me like a cannonball, more pressure, because mitt romney put such a great performance and the bar pretty high.
>> reporter: ted olson reportedly went back and forth in three mock debates in an indoor tennis court . in between, he worked in some r & r, picking pumpkins with his kids over the weekend. for his part, mr. biden has practiced with chris van hollen . ordering sandwiches from his favorite deli in delaware.
>> i just want to make sure that when i say these things that i don't have the congressman saying, no, no, no, i don't have that position or that's not the governor's position.
>> reporter: many political observers discount the importance of vp debates, arguing they rarely if ever have tipped the outcome of the presidential election. that dsn't mean these meetings have been meaningless or unforgettable.
>> reporter: cheney attacked johndwards as a sort of johnny-come-lately.
>> the first time i ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight.
>> reporter: there was lloyd nson's zinger against dan quayle .
>> senator, you're no jack kennedy .
>> who am i? why am i here?
>> reporter: questions unlikely to surface thursday night, at least by these two. ron mott, nbc news, st. petersburg, florida.
>> today congressman paul ryan sparred again with his debate partner inside this florida hotel. preparing to square off thursday against joe biden .
>> we think he's probably going to come at me like a cannonball, more pressure, because mitt romney put such a great performance and the bar pretty high.
>> reporter: ted olson reportedly went back and forth in three mock debates in an indoor tennis court . in between, he worked in some r & r, picking pumpkins with his kids over the weekend. for his part, mr. biden has practiced with chris van hollen . ordering sandwiches from his favorite deli in delaware.
>> i just want to make sure that when i say these things that i don't have the congressman saying, no, no, no, i don't have that position or that's not the governor's position.
>> reporter: many political observers discount the importance of vp debates, arguing they rarely if ever have tipped the outcome of the presidential election. that dsn't mean these meetings have been meaningless or unforgettable.
>> reporter: cheney attacked johndwards as a sort of johnny-come-lately.
>> the first time i ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight.
>> reporter: there was lloyd nson's zinger against dan quayle .
>> senator, you're no jack kennedy .
>> who am i? why am i here?
>> reporter: questions unlikely to surface thursday night, at least by these two. ron mott, nbc news, st. petersburg, florida.