Former Obama adviser David Axelrod suggested that Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, was better prepared for Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate because he had had frequent contact with the media, while his opponent, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz , “did not do that.”

“Vance was chosen by Trump to be his designated hitter on TV and he’s ubiquitous on these Sunday shows and in interviews. He’s been preparing, not just this past week, but these performances have prevented Walz from doing that,” Axelrod said Tuesday. on CNN.

Vance and Walz will face off Tuesday in their first and likely only debate before the November election. The debate will be moderated by CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell and Margaret Brennan.

According to Walz campaign staffers, the Democratic vice presidential nominee is reportedly nervous about looking bad during the debate and letting down his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris.

TRUMP-VANCE TICKET HAS DONE A COMBINED 60 INTERVIEWS SINCE THE LAST MONTH, COMPARED TO 21 FOR HARRIS-WALZ

Former Obama adviser David Axelrod contrasted the different media approaches of GOP vice presidential candidate JD Vance and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. (CNN/Getty Images)

Axelrod said these leaked comments to the media show his campaign is “actively trying to lower expectations for the Democrat” ahead of the debate.

“I think it’s interesting that the campaign actually leaked in the last 24 hours: ‘Well, he told us he wasn’t a good debater.’ I mean, they’re actively trying to lower expectations for Walz,” he continued.

“(V)ance is very good at this. And that is why he was chosen. Walz was chosen because of that friendliness, that warmth. And the question is: will it be a Labrador Retriever versus a coyote? And how will that end?” Axelrod asked.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Harris-Walz campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

WALZ’S DEBATE PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS LOWERED FOR THE SHOWDOWN WITH VANCE: ‘STILL NOT TESTED’

The Harris-Walz campaign is “actively trying to lower expectations” ahead of the VP debate, Axelrod argued. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The Democratic presidential ticket continues to lag behind the Republican ticket in media interviews, although Harris has stepped up her appearances in recent days.

As of Monday, Trump and Vance have conducted at least 60 interviews since the Harris-Walz ticket was formed, compared to 21 unscripted interviews for Harris and Walz.

Former Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill argued on MSNBC that the media should “lower” their expectations for Walz’s performance Tuesday.

“I’m a little worried about the expectations game right now. I think people – yeah, JD Vance actually said some, I think, disqualifying things about women and how he sees people and their role in life “But he will. Be articulate and he will be prepared and he will be better than Trump was,” she said on the liberal channel on Sunday.

“I just think we need to lower expectations a little bit because then we can all be pleasantly surprised if I’m wrong and Tim Walz just mop the floor with him the same way Kamala Harris mopped the floor with Donald Trump,” McCaskill said. added.

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Brian Flood and Hanna Panreck of Fox News contributed to this article.