By — Gwen Ifill Gwen Ifill Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/5-reasons-watch-next-gop-face Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter 5 Reasons to watch the next GOP face-off Politics Sep 11, 2015 1:24 PM EDT Yippee. Another Debate. Another chance to decide which Republican on the crowded stage in Los Angeles next week deserves the chance to face the Democratic nominee a year from now. Depending on how things shake out, there may even be three people on that general election stage — but who knows? A third-party candidacy appears increasingly likely every day. For now, all we know for sure is that it’s time for more popcorn. Here is what I will be watching: Out-Trumping Trump: Exactly how does one do that? The most effective combatants at the first debate were Carly Fiorina, who did not even share the stage with Trump, and moderator Megyn Kelly, who fought the good fight and became a target instead. Holding enemies close: This is something I think my mother advised. If you are embracing someone, it makes it harder for them to stab you. Ted Cruz is testing this theory with Trump, so far with limited success. Ben Carson tried it for awhile, but abandoned that approach this week. Does policy matter? Unbeknownst to many, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush and Scott Walker have been giving policy speeches all summer. Almost none of them are punching through — in part because we have all been on vacation and in part because Trump’s long shadow so effectively obscures substance. Can anyone not on the main stage break through, as Fiorina did last time? For Rick Perry, Chris Christie and Lindsey Graham, this is no small question. Without a chance to showcase oneself in front of all those eyeballs, the field could well shrink by the time the next debate happens. Can anything the Republicans do or say help Democrat Hillary Clinton, who has been consumed with running against herself? Clintonites certainly hope so, as polls show the rabble-rousing Bernie Sanders, and the undecided Joe Biden advancing steadily. And of course, we have no choice but to watch Donald Trump. There are so many mysteries attached to the GOP frontrunner, who is essentially asking voters to simply trust that he has the substance and the temperament to handle the most important job in the world. Oh, maybe I’ll order a pizza too. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Gwen Ifill Gwen Ifill In Memoriam: Gwen Ifill was the moderator and managing editor of "Washington Week" and co-anchor and managing editor for "The PBS NEWSHOUR w/ Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff." @gwenifill
Yippee. Another Debate. Another chance to decide which Republican on the crowded stage in Los Angeles next week deserves the chance to face the Democratic nominee a year from now. Depending on how things shake out, there may even be three people on that general election stage — but who knows? A third-party candidacy appears increasingly likely every day. For now, all we know for sure is that it’s time for more popcorn. Here is what I will be watching: Out-Trumping Trump: Exactly how does one do that? The most effective combatants at the first debate were Carly Fiorina, who did not even share the stage with Trump, and moderator Megyn Kelly, who fought the good fight and became a target instead. Holding enemies close: This is something I think my mother advised. If you are embracing someone, it makes it harder for them to stab you. Ted Cruz is testing this theory with Trump, so far with limited success. Ben Carson tried it for awhile, but abandoned that approach this week. Does policy matter? Unbeknownst to many, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush and Scott Walker have been giving policy speeches all summer. Almost none of them are punching through — in part because we have all been on vacation and in part because Trump’s long shadow so effectively obscures substance. Can anyone not on the main stage break through, as Fiorina did last time? For Rick Perry, Chris Christie and Lindsey Graham, this is no small question. Without a chance to showcase oneself in front of all those eyeballs, the field could well shrink by the time the next debate happens. Can anything the Republicans do or say help Democrat Hillary Clinton, who has been consumed with running against herself? Clintonites certainly hope so, as polls show the rabble-rousing Bernie Sanders, and the undecided Joe Biden advancing steadily. And of course, we have no choice but to watch Donald Trump. There are so many mysteries attached to the GOP frontrunner, who is essentially asking voters to simply trust that he has the substance and the temperament to handle the most important job in the world. Oh, maybe I’ll order a pizza too. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now