The debate’s like media tennis. The hostile media throws “gotcha!” questions at the candidates, who effortlessly swat them back.
I’ve never seen this before - every other election has been our guys stand up there and allow themselves to be flogged by the media until they’re bloody, and then whimper and ask for forgiveness for being alive. Thanks to Trump and Cruz, it seems they’ve collectively grown a pair (except, perhaps, for Carly, who would find that kind of difficult) and are now actually beating the media at their own game.
There’s STILL far too many people on the stage. I think the top three should debate, and the others should be relegated to the baby table, but I doubt the GOP-e would ever let that happen to Jeb!.
For so long as Jeb! is in the race, the lead debate will feature him and one or two who poll below him, so it’s not so obvious he’s just being allowed into the adult debate. Sort of the way they let John McCain graduate from the USNA around 5th from the bottom of his class. Those fortunate four below him got to graduate because they gave him cover.