Many of us are anticipating this Thursday’s GOP debate, particularly Donald Trump’s whimsical touch. Fortunately, Fox News debate moderator Chris Wallace has devised many opportunities for Trump to shine.
Only 10 out of the declared 17 candidates will be given the opportunity to debate based on who ranks highest in the polls. Trump surely will be one of them.
America will watch in anticipation as many issues such as economy, foreign policy, electability, spending/national debt, health care and even “for fun” questions will be addressed.
As GOPers are preparing for the debate, all have one thing in mind: averting Trump.
Jeb Bush is spending hours in sessions from Florida to Maine preparing policy answers for Thursday’s first Republican debate — but he is also being mindful to avert any display of disdain for the man he will stand beside, Donald J. Trump, who has infuriated Mr. Bush by criticizing Mexican immigrants. (Mr. Bush is married to one.)
Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin is crafting one-minute answers and 30-second rebuttals in case Mr. Trump or others continue attacking him as a flip-flopper on Common Core education standards and as a weak jobs creator, testing lines in mock debates with advisers playing Mr. Trump and other candidates.
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ben Carson are determined not to let the debate on Fox News become about Mr. Trump, practicing to steer the conversation to national security, entitlement reform and health care — which might implicitly plant doubts about Mr. Trump’s knowledge on those issues.
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These candidates are given the opportunity to make their very first impression on a national level, and when it comes to becoming president of the United States, having the attention on Donald Trump is not on their agenda. They hope to appeal to this larger audience and Wallace hopes to aid in the “unlocking of the politicians' minds.”
With most candidates, Wallace has an idea of what they would like to accomplish on the debate stage. “If you’re Jeb Bush, you pretty much want to stay out of any clinches,” Wallace said. “There’s nothing to be gained by him to punch down on somebody below him. What he’s going to want to do is establish his conservative bona fides, to say: ‘I’m not Bush III, I’m the former conservative governor of a state.’ .?.?. There are other people who are going to want to make a statement on the stage, who are going to want to push at somebody, and to a certain degree, you’d like those fireworks.”
With each candidate getting around 8 to 10 minutes to answer each question and a rebuttal, they know that each minute holds a high responsibility to appeal to America in a tense and high pressure environment.
Grab your popcorn, everyone, as this debate is estimated to hold some of the highest ratings in all of national television. Donald Trump’s flavorful touch will certainly be a commodity to watch, but so will the reactions, and aversions of the other candidates.
The debate will take place Thursday at 9 p.m. EST on Fox News.
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