GOP debate: What to watch for and why
Presidential primary season has been well underway for months, but the race gets a lot more interesting with the first Republican presidential debate Thursday evening.
There are plenty of good reasons to watch — and several things worth watching out for, as well.
Recent headlines have zeroed in on businessman Donald Trump’s ascendancy. Indeed, he’ll go into the debate leading the polls.
His rise in popularity shouldn’t be shocking; it’s based solely on playing to Republican frustrations. Trump seems to be taking a page from the book of Texas’ junior senator and fellow candidate, Ted Cruz, who similarly relies on rhetorical flourishes to satisfy his audience.
The interplay between these two similarly motivated contenders, as well as their responses to attacks from others, will tell a lot about the directions of their respective campaigns.
Will they stand down or raise the bluster to a new decibel?
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a former legislator with decades of political experience and the candidate who most recently joined the field.
As the leader of a political bellwether state, Kasich’s record suggests he’s willing to compromise on party ideals when practical or necessary. For example, he expanded Medicaid under Obamacare and has embraced Common Core education standards.
He represents the kind of malleable Republican that more conservative ideologues finger as the problem with the party.
His late entrance to the race might be to blame for his low poll numbers; he rounds out the bottom of the 10 debate participants. It will be interesting to see if his performance raises his profile.
Between Kasich and Trump are eight other candidates whose combined policy, political and life experience is undeniably impressive.
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, one of two Hispanics in the race, and his mentor, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, have long been friends and colleagues. Now they’re opponents.
They face a field of senators and current and former governors, including Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
The only African-American candidate on stage brings the most diverse background to the fray. Ben Carson, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, is trying to prove that being a political outsider is one of his biggest assets. We’ll see.
In addition to Carson, Cruz and Rubio, the GOP field thus far boasts an Indian-American candidate and a woman candidate. However, neither Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal nor former business executive Carly Fiorina were polling high enough to make it onto the debate main stage.
Only the top 10 candidates based on an average of polls taken Tuesday were invited to the prime time debate.
The bottom seven candidates will have an opportunity to make their case during a pre-debate forum carried by the Fox News Network.
Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, making a second run at the nomination, will be part of the pre-debate crowd.
The forum won’t have any antics from Trump or Cruz, so it might prove a better opportunity for meaningful discussion and a unique moment for candidates with nominal name recognition and support to attract a larger following.
Nearly as important as the individuals behind the podiums are those who sit before them.
Three Fox News anchors are responsible for supplying a collection of incisive questions to elicit substantive policy answers, not just stump speech rhetoric, from the field.
That’s no easy task.
And while Fox is often knocked for its conservative bent, no news network is better positioned to evoke responses that strike the heart of issues that matter most to Republicans.
Thursday’s debate is the first of many designed to whittle down the GOP primary field.
While it’s early in the cycle, voters who care about the candidate who represents the GOP in the general election next November would be well-served to watch and listen.
This story was originally published August 4, 2015 at 6:01 PM with the headline "GOP debate: What to watch for and why."