Tonight, the Republican candidates for President of the United States will ascend the debate stage for the third time. Here’s a few things you need to know…
WHERE TO WATCH: The early debate begins at 6PM ET on CNBC. It’s not that important so we can just sum it up right here. This is where all the candidates who should have long since dropped out of the election will mutter irrelevantly at one another in hopes of getting a cabinet post, a book deal, or a show on Fox News. Expect Lindsey Graham to focus on the two pillars of his campaign- intervention abroad and more drinking in politics for the facilitation of holy bipartisan consensus. Expect George Pataki to push his 9/11 national security bona fides and electability(Yes, really) and Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum to focus on issues important to social conservatives. Expect Jim Gilmore to post sad live tweets.
The Main Event kicks off at 8PM ET on CNBC.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
1) The Establishment vs. The Outsiders- Look for each of the establishment favorite candidates- Rubio, Bush, and Fiorina- to attempt to make their mark by attacking frontrunners Donald Trump and Ben Carson. Both candidates were once dismissed as side shows, but both seems to have solidified their position as legitimate frontrunners. The last time around, the establishment candidates laid off the soft spoken, affable Dr. Carson. This should change now that the famed neurosurgeon has shown himself to be Trump’s equal in the polls and a juggernaut of a fundraiser. How he handles it should be interesting.
2) Haymakers- Aside from Trump, whose debate style seems to be “go big or go home,” we should expect three candidates whose campaigns are on the brink to come out swinging: Jeb Bush, Rand Paul, and Chris Christie. Bush’s campaign has been characterized by Trump, and others, as an utter disaster, and seems proof positive that spending the most money is no guarantee of election. Jeb will have to make a splash and combat the notion that he is low energy if he wants his donors to believe he has a chance at turning the ship around. Rand Paul has failed to capture the same momentum that propelled his father’s candidacy, as his softened views on a slew of issues diminished the enthusiasm of his libertarian base. If he’s going to have any shot at all, he’ll have to find a way to aggressviely assert his commitment to those principles. Expect Christie, who has failed to gain any traction, to look for support by attacking Rand Paul as dangerous.
3) Ted Cruz- Cruz has an incredible infrastructure, a lot of money, and a strong support base in Iowa. Will this be the debate where he breaks out? So far, Cruz’s strategy has been to avoid criticism of other candidates. This is likely because he hopes to peel off a significant number of Trump voters should the billionaire businessman opt to drop out, but now may be the time for the Senator from Texas to drop the nice guy act and show that he’s capable of entering that top tier.
4) Mike Huckabee- Huckabee, of God, Guns,Grits, and Gravy fame, is likely to say something incredibly blunt in support of his social conservative focused campaign. It might be make or break for the former governor, and a command performance by Cruz, Paul, or Christie could push him into the bottom tier.
5)Carly Fiorina- Fiorina is the only candidate to make it from the kid’s table to legitimate contender status. The last time she took the stage, she dominated the conversation, taking potshots at Trump and rising in the polls. Since then, Fiorina has faded in the polls. If she wants to be anything more than a vice presidential consideration, she’ll have to find a way to repeat that performance and carry it forward.
AAN Staff
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