Posted on 07/31/2015 2:38:42 PM PDT by Red Steel
When Jeb Bush and Donald Trump share a debate stage next week, Bush needs to ignore the real estate mogul at all costs — and if that fails, laugh him off.
That’s the advice of more than half of the POLITICO Caucus, our weekly, bipartisan survey of the top activists, operatives and strategists in Iowa and New Hampshire.
“The old maxim applies: Never wrestle with a pig,” counseled a New Hampshire Republican. “You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it.”
At the first GOP primary debate slated for Aug. 6 in Cleveland, Bush and eight other Republicans will share the stage with Trump, the bombastic businessman who is leading the Republican field in recent polls and dominating headlines. Trump has been critical of a host of other GOP candidates, but he is an especially sharp and persistent critic of Bush — even attacking Bush in his own announcement for president.
But insiders have a message for the former Florida governor: Do not engage. Many Republicans expect Trump will zero in on Bush in the debate — and how Bush responds could go a long way toward shaping perceptions about his cool under fire. Bush has not tussled as frequently or as intensely with Trump as other GOP candidates have, and several insiders advised that the longer the focus is on Trump’s battles with the others, the better it is for Bush to quietly consolidate support while others struggle to break through.
“With Trump being Trump, he will be the news of the debate 24/7 and no one else will break through,” a New Hampshire Republican said. “This helps Bush by keeping anyone else down in the pack.”
“Donald Who? Allow others to seek media attention with attacks on Trump. Bush needs to be above the fray, because, frankly, he IS above the fray,” said a New Hampshire Democrat, who like all participants was requested anonymity to speak freely.
Most early-state Republicans expect Bush to emerge as the victor in the first GOP primary debate next week; he had the highest overall expectations for any one candidate competing in the nationally televised, prime-time event according to the survey. But they expect him to succeed by demonstrating seriousness and a command of the issues onstage — not by taking on Trump.
“Jeb Bush needs to introduce himself as a serious leader for serious times to a large and curious audience,” said an Iowa Republican. “I hope he stands next to Trump onstage. The comparison in knowledge, depth and quality will be apparent in the first 15 minutes.”
“He should avoid a food fight and be an adult but not a pushover,” said a New Hampshire Republican.
That may be easier said than done, warned some caucus participants.
“[He] needs to not get ruffled, which will be hard to do because Trump doesn’t just throw punches, he throws grenades,” a New Hampshire Democrat said.
But the best way to handle Trump broadsides, advised several insiders, is to disarm him — and the audience — with humor.
“He needs to punch Donald Trump in the nose, but do it with a smile on his face,” an Iowa Democrat said. “He should be funny and confident, but do everything he can to poke holes in his gasbag facade.”
Several added that other presidential contenders, in particular Ronald Reagan, showed a talent for defusing tense debate situations with a lighter touch.
“They all need to remember that Reagan’s classic “There you go again” line [to Jimmy Carter] was delivered not with a snarl and a smirk but rather with a smile and a shrug,” a New Hampshire Republican said.
But if GOP insiders have the highest expectations for Bush, they also believe that, after Trump, he has the most to prove. And a third of Democratic insiders also say Bush has the most to prove, followed by Trump with 21 percent.
“Jeb Bush is still the perceived yet relatively untested front-runner,” said a New Hampshire Republican. “With everyone questioning his fire in the belly for the job, he needs a strong performance before another cycle of ‘can he go the distance’ stories kick in.”
“He is the true front-runner,” an Iowa Republican said. “A lot of folks will be looking at him to see if he can break away from the pack and be the leader of the party.”
Among both Iowa and New Hampshire Republicans, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker came in third on the list of candidates who have the most to prove at the first debate. Walker leads the polls in Iowa, but critics have questioned whether his grasp of policy is enough for the national stage.
“As the Iowa front-runner and legitimate first-tier candidate, Scott Walker will get his first real turn on the big stage,” an Iowa Republican said. “To date, he’s turned in uneven performances on substance. His speeches are largely canned, memorized talking points. His shifting positions on issues create huge potential land mines with the base. Several candidates put Iowa in the must-win column, and for them, he’ll be a prime target.”
“Trump is probably gonna Trump, so nothing to prove there. Bush is probably experienced enough that he doesn’t really have that much to prove. I picked Walker because he’s considered a top-tier candidate, and leader in Iowa, so he needs to prove he’s able to handle himself and the questions in on a national stage,” a nonpartisan Iowan said.
Twenty-one percent of Democrats said Walker has the most to prove, tied with Trump.
“Walker needs to prove he belongs,” a New Hampshire Democrat said.
Just watch. Trump will use this in the debate to belittle Jeb.
Jeb who?
“I hope he stands next to Trump onstage. The comparison in knowledge, depth and quality will be apparent in the first 15 minutes.”
So true. Trump may well be unstoppable when voters see how vacant jeb is.
These DC pigs have been at the tax payer trough so many decades, they no longer see themselves as pigs on the tax payroll.
They think everyone outside their entrenched insiders club are the pigs.
Trump has created hundred of millions in taxes for these reckless political pigs.
And they allege Trump’s the pig?
I know a few in the real world.
I wouldn’t say they are super excited, but there are a few jeb supporters out there.
but yeah, they don’t frequent grassroots websites...you are correct there.
“To wrestle with a pig” is like wrestling with Hollywood.
The Jeb has a friend? Who would have known.
He might get 4 votes from those under 30. Those are relatives...
Consultant tested and approved
Is the old maxim, “Don’t get into a pissing contest with a skunk” not in vogue anymore?
They are so arrogant.
Hilarious how the “insiders” believe that Jeb’s problem is that he is perceived as lacking “fire in the belly”.
Now we know how they will spin the results next Thursday.
All Jeb will do is come off as having a hard on for illegals and Common Core.
There are many reasons not to like Bush but certainly “fire in the belly” is a very obvious reason. For people like me who never followed his career, the lack of spunk and obvious boredom is paramount in my estimation of him. Don’t underestimate that!
Trump has NOTHING to prove.
He is what he is. He understands as a businessman, either you give the public what *THEY* will buy or you go belly up. Jeb is as bad as Hillary in thinking he’s entitled to the nomination. Several others are ideologues who would rather be right than elected which may be admirable but ‘don’t pay the bills’.
Two things really get media attention, neither has anything to do with political ideology:
Money
Entertainment value
Trump has more of either than every other candidate of both parties put together.
Personal analysis of why Trump confounds some on both left and right:
I think a heck of a lot of the American population likes the fact he is NOT either an ideological conservative or a liberal; not a whole lot of people are, it just SEEMS that way because here (and at DU) the people who are motivated by partisan ideology outpost people who might very well have some liberal ideas and some conservative ones. Here, and at DU, no one in their right mind is going to admit to having an opinion outside of the prevailing orthodoxy, not if they don’t want dozens of passionate people attacking them. So that skews what we (and the other side) see online
Wow! I figured yeb would be nervous over going head to head with Trump, but I didn’t know he would be scared enough to put out that idiotic excuse.
...fake U. S. Citizen...
In name only.
Unnamed, invisible wimps advising Jeb the wimp to act like a wimp. I’m for that. Anyone else?
I don’t think ¡Yeb! has anything else in him.
so the Dems don’t think Jeb has anything to prove,,how interesting.
Jeb looks like he belongs in a sheltered workshop.
It sounds like a good excuse to avoid someone who will seriously kick your a$$.
Jeb Bush = weak & weaker.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.