Tonight is the last GOP debate before the Iowa caucuses and the last time for the candidates’ to appeal for support before the first votes are cast. However, the Republican front-runner Donald Trump will not be on the stage. He will instead hold a separate rally to fundraise for veterans.
Trump’s move has garnered much media attention as analysts have speculated about the impact of the decision on Trump’s poll numbers. Some say it will either help him, or at least not hurt him. Others have said it impact him negatively. And still others have said they believe that Trump will make a surprise appearance at the debate.
Without Trump not on the stage, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz will be in the center and that will probably mean the candidates will focus their attention on him. Analysts think that Cruz use tonight as an opportunity to attack Trump’s character.
Whether or not Trump will be attacked is something that reporters and analysts have been wondering about since Trump announced his decision not to attend the debate. Analysts say that it might be beneficial for the candidates to attack Trump, but they don’t want to look like they’re obsessing over him.
For the establishment candidates - Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie - tonight will be another opportunity for each of them to try convince voters that they are the conservative alternative to Trump or Cruz. All three of the candidates are virtually tied in New Hampshire.
Trump’s move has garnered much media attention as analysts have speculated about the impact of the decision on Trump’s poll numbers. Some say it will either help him, or at least not hurt him. Others have said it impact him negatively. And still others have said they believe that Trump will make a surprise appearance at the debate.
Without Trump not on the stage, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz will be in the center and that will probably mean the candidates will focus their attention on him. Analysts think that Cruz use tonight as an opportunity to attack Trump’s character.
Whether or not Trump will be attacked is something that reporters and analysts have been wondering about since Trump announced his decision not to attend the debate. Analysts say that it might be beneficial for the candidates to attack Trump, but they don’t want to look like they’re obsessing over him.
For the establishment candidates - Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie - tonight will be another opportunity for each of them to try convince voters that they are the conservative alternative to Trump or Cruz. All three of the candidates are virtually tied in New Hampshire.