Donald Trump's running mate Mike Pence kicked off the one and only vice presidential debate by misstating the name of the college hosting the event.

'Thank you to Norwood University for their wonderful hospitality and the Commission on Presidential Debates,' he said. 'It’s deeply humbling for me to be here.'

The debate is being held at Longwood University and the mistake was quickly picked up by social media users.

Norwood University does not exist, but that did not stop one witty Twitter user setting up a 'Norwood University' account moments after the faux pas.

'Happy to host you tonight, Governor!' the account tweeted, before adding: 'Enrollment for Spring '17 is OPEN!!!'

Mike Pence (right) kicked off the debate by misstating the name of the college hosting the event. Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate (left), opened hostilities against Pence in his opening statement, and signalled that he would make the attack on Trump the theme of the night.

One witty Twitter user setting up a 'Norwood University' account moments after the faux pas

However, Tuesday's debate took just minutes to turn into a debate on one man – Donald Trump.

Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate, opened hostilities in his opening statement, and signalled that he would make the attack on Trump the theme of the night.

Kaine opened up tonight's presidential debate by talking about how much he trusted his running mate, Hillary Clinton, telling voters that he trusted the former secretary of state with the life of his deployed Marine son.

'The thought of Donald Trump as commander-in-chief scares us to death,' Kaine said, as he noted Hillary Clinton's history-making presidential run on several occasions.

Indiana Gov. Pence told voters that 'the American people know we need to make a change,' before thanking Trump for putting him on the ticket.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, Trump's running mate (right), told voters that 'the American people know we need to make a change,' before thanking Trump for putting him on the ticket

Kaine opened up tonight's presidential debate by talking about how much he trusted his running mate, Hillary Clinton

Pence drew blood, however, in blaming Clinton's State Department for creating the power vacuum in the Middle East that the ISIS terror army went on to fill.

'Iraq has been overrun by ISIS,' he said, 'because Hillary Clinton failed to renegotiate a status of forces agreement' with the Iraqi government.

Kaine gave her credit for killing Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda ringleader whom President Obama gave the order to kill the third time his military leaders asked him to.

The attack on Trump continued as the debate moved to the economy. Kaine described the rival campaigns as 'you're hired, versus you’re fired'.

But Pence attacked the Obama record.

'The politics of this administration,' Pence continued, 'have run this economy into a ditch.'

Kaine tried interrupting several times, by noting the 15 million new jobs.

'You can roll out the numbers and sunny side, but people in Scranton know different,' Pence countered, mentioning a pivotal swing state. 'This economy is struggling.'

Pence also gave Kaine a 'God bless you' for his public service, but noted, 'Donald Trump is a businessman, not a politician.'

While vice presidential debates usually don't change the course of the presidential election much, Democrats supporting Clinton heightened the stakes for Pence, threatening he'll have to answer for some of Trump's recent remarks.

'The thought of Donald Trump as commander-in-chief scares us to death,' Kaine (pictured) said, as he noted Hillary Clinton's history-making presidential run on several occasions

Moderator Elaine Quijano of CBS News (in background) watches as Gov. Mike Pence, right, shakes hands with Democratic vice-presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine

'Usually this is a test to see if these candidates are prepared to serve as president,' Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook said on 'CBS This Morning.'

'I think both of them are regarded as pretty accomplished public servants. The real question is, is Mike Pence going to defend Donald Trump,' Mook said.

Vice President Joe Biden also offered the candidates some advice, in a missive that was clearly aimed at Pence.

'Think about whether you made the right decision,' he said. 'Because it could be a long day in that office over there,' he said, pointing out the window at the White House, 'if you don't agree with the president.'

Trump's campaign manager Kellyanne Conway promised that the Indiana governor would be 'feisty.'

And Clinton, boarding her 'Stronger Together' plane this morning, gave a thumbs up and said 'great' when asked by reporters how she thought her running mate might fare.

Moderator Elaine Quijano of CBS News addresses the candidates as the begin to answer questions in Virginia