A smaller cast of candidates faces off Tuesday night in the Republicans’ fourth presidential debate, with mild-mannered Ben Carson pledging to push back aggressively if challenged on the veracity of his celebrated personal story. So that’s the first thing we’re looking for in tonight’s debate: signs of what might cause voters to lose interest in the two main outsider candidates. Man!” Trump said. “You stab somebody and the newspapers say you didn’t do it. And you say, ‘Yes, I did.
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Billionaire Donald Trump has led the field for months, defying standard political logic, while experienced governors and senators have struggled to break through.
Bush was roundly criticized after the last Republican debate in Colorado for attacking the Senate attendance record of Rubio, who is 18 years younger than Bush and is widely viewed by Republicans as the future of the party.
Marco Rubio, in the hours before the debate, launched a striking ad against GOP rival Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor. He has been strong in previous debates, and we can expect another good showing from the polished Republican. Politico reported that Carson was never formally offered a scholarship to West Point, despite his past claims he had been, while CNN said it could not find anyone to corroborate claims that Carson was a violent teenager.
Carson – a retired neurosurgeon who, like Trump, has no political experience – had the highest favorability rating of any GOP candidate – 69 percent.
Republican strategist Frank Donatelli, a three-decade veteran of presidential politics, said Cruz, like Trump and Carson, can connect with conservative voters who are deeply disenchanted with the status quo. Meanwhile, Jeb Bush said he’d give a Democrat a “warm kiss” if they were willing to cut spending.
According to Fox Business Network, Tuesday’s debate “will focus on jobs, taxes, and the general health of the economy, as well as domestic and worldwide policy issues”.
Carson grew animated under heated questions from reporters, but on the debate stage, he has nearly appeared sleepy at times. “He’s not going to attack anybody”.
“Belt buckles really pretty much don’t stop stabbing”. But the moderators will have to be on their toes as the candidates look to gain any advantage they can. “One in 10 people right now aren’t working or have given up all together as you said- that’s not an A. One in seven people are living in poverty – that’s not an A”, Bush said. (The case is likely headed to the Supreme Court in any event.) The businessman then echoes his immigration platform – “we need borders; we will have a wall” – and says many migrants now in the country illegally will have to be deported.
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“I know I have to get better”, Bush told supporters last week after his lackluster performance.
