Scranton and compare and contrast strategies

Vice President Joe Biden often references his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania on the campaign trail as he tries to connect with middle class voters.

Tonight, a Romney-Ryan campaign official tells CNN that they are prepared if Biden brings up Scranton in the debate.

"If the Vice President tries to emphasize his roots in Scranton to relate to people struggling in the Obama economy, expect that Paul Ryan will mention that the unemployment rate in Scranton was 8.5% when Barack Obama took office, it's now 10%," said the official. "They can't say people in Scranton are better off than they were four years ago."

An Obama-Biden campaign official said they don't necessarily view this debate as a match-up between Vice President Biden and Congressman Ryan, but rather expect Biden to draw clear contrasts between the Romney-Ryan plans and the Obama-Biden vision for the future. And expect the vice president to talk about what the president has done on behalf of the middle class.

"This is about two dueling visions for the future, and tonight the vice president is going to make that case," said the official.