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The first and last vice presidential debate of 2016 was not just a clash of candidates, but a clash of realities — and of two theories about how media and politics work.

Half the questions will come from an audience of undecided voters, selected to be there by Gallup.

But viewers who do tune in could be rewarded with a clearer sense of the differences between the two parties than could be gleaned from the Clinton-Trump debate.

By the time Sunday’s debate convenes at Washington University, an army of news folk numbering as many as 2,000 will be in place — a number that’s a testament both to the high intrigue surrounding this year’s contest, and the changing media landscape.

Donald Trump's microphone was temporarily silenced during a campaign rally Monday, which he jokingly linked to the sound problems he faced during last week's presidential debate.

There’ll be no Donald Trump-style invective. No Bernie Sanders ideological fireworks. No crowded field of GOP contenders vying to outdo each other for one good sound bite or memorable attack. Just two conventional pols reverting to form.

Tuesday night’s debate is between the No. 2’s — but it will be all about the No. 1’s.

Here are eight areas where I thought Clinton excelled in Monday night’s debate.

The debate appears to have had only a slight impact on each candidate’s popularity, though if anything it aided Clinton. Trump’s 34 percent favorable rating among all Americans is little changed from 35 percent before the debate, but his unfavorable mark has crept up from 59 to 64 percent.

Donald Trump has one week to prepare for his next debate with Hillary Clinton. It is a critical event for him. Yet everything he’s done before and after the first debate sends a loud, clear message: He seems to think debate prep is for chumps.

"Regarding the first debate, there were issues regarding Donald Trump's audio that affected the sound level in the debate hall," the commission said in a statement

4. There’s Only One VP Debate, So This Is Your Only Chance