Let the Debates Begin!

Earlier this year, the Republican National Committee (RNC) made the decision to limit the number of GOP primary debates and forums to 12. (There were 27 for the 2012 election.) Each debate will have a sponsor–typically a media outlet, take place in a different city across the United States, and have at least one moderator.

The first debate will be co-hosted by Fox News and Facebook and held on August 6 in Cleveland, Ohio. In order to qualify, each candidates must meet certain criteria. In addition to compliance with all of the constitutional and Federal Election Commission requirements, each candidate must place in the top ten of an average of the five most recent national polls (as determined by FOX News) before 5:00pm on August 4. It is this last requirement that has hopeful candidates scurrying to gain the attention of the general public and increase their poll numbers.

Who’ll Make it into the Top Ten?

Eight candidates—Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, Mario Rubio, Donald Trump, and Scott Walker—have seemingly secured their place on stage. Polling steadily at the bottom are Carly Fiorina, George Pataki, Lindsey Graham, and Jim Gilmore, making it unlikely that any of them will break through. This leaves Chris Christie, Bobby Jindal, John Kasich, Rick Perry, and Rick Santorum to battle it out for the remaining two spots.

Fox announced on July 28 that it would offer a compromise that would allow those polling below 1 percent in an average of the last five polls to participate. There will now be a one hour “second tier” debate with the six candidates who do not make the final cut. This will run one hour before the main debate.

Is Any Attention Good Attention?

Campaigns are reportedly spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on advertisements and other promotional measures. According to media-buying data, Marco Rubio has spent the most money so far with $2.6 million, with John Kasich in a close second with $2.1 million.

Other candidates are getting attention by their controversial remarks or antics. Leading that particular pack is definitely Donald Trump–who seems to upset someone or some group of people at every appearance he makes. Mike Huckabee made headlines when he compared the Iranian Nuclear agreement with the Holocaust. Other candidates, however, are trying to make attention in other ways. Lindsey Graham responded to an attack from Trump with a satirical video intended to go viral.

The Republican Party in general is receiving a lot of criticism from its voting base for creating a free-for-all type environment entering into the first stages of the election season.

Use the Classroom Connection

Credit: McGraw-Hill Education

To help you prepare for the Republican candidate debates, review this PDF worksheet that provides some guidance on what to think about during the debate itself. Also, take this opportunity to jot down notes as you watch the debate and think about how you react to the candidates, what they say, and how they say it.

Once the debate is over, visit the Election Central Classroom Connection area and send your debate-watching notes back to Election Central headquarters. You just might see some of your own thoughts compiled in a future post outlining viewer reactions.