There’s less than a week before the first wild GOP debate

At least seven of 10 available invitations for Thursday’s prime time faceoff are as good as delivered, if unofficial polling averages from RealClearPolitics.com and Huffington Post are reliable indicators. Marco Rubio of Florida (6.8); former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (6.3); retired pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson (6.2); Sen.

With Donald Trump sucking up the oxygen on the campaign trail, these are stressful days for the group of Republican candidates who, try as they might, may not qualify for their party’s first presidential debate in Cleveland next week.

Other polls have Cruz with enough support to gain entry to the debate and that former Texas Governor Rick Perry would miss the cut. Or more specifically, how will the moderators control Donald Trump? Instead, he now appears to be the epicenter of it, not only because of his notorious statements but because he is leading in many national polls. Veteran Republican operatives aren’t buying the bravado.

With just six days to go before the inaugural Republican primary debate, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Texas Gov. Rick Perry are locked in a three-way scramble for the last two podiums on the main stage.

“No candidate wants to be relegated to kids’ table”.

With the Republican field the largest in history, fitting them on stage presents an unprecedented challenge.

Several officials from Republican campaigns said they are concerned that Fox News has lacked clarity and transparency in its debate preparations, and that this could provide more reason for complaints from the seven who don’t make it. “It’s got to be frustrating”. With it, the primary enters a new, more competitive phase.

Speaking with Fox News on Thursday, the Garden State guv said “we’re very confident we’ll be at the 9:00 debate”.

To date, the candidates have focused most of their ire at President Obama and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton; there should be plenty of that on Thursday. Elevated recognition combined with a strong performance can propel underdogs into contention, solidify frontrunners, and perhaps more important than any of that, boost fundraising and grassroots enthusiasm for their campaigns.

Primary debates usually do not have those negotiated conditions, which apply to the debates for the general election. This will allow all the announced candidates to participate.

“It’s drilling down and getting into specifics of policy”, Heye added. Each, though, has been trying to take on Trump in recent weeks, with the latter putting out a viral video of himself destroying a cell phone – a response to Trump giving out his number during the McCain flap (Graham had lashed out at Trump for questioning his friend McCain’s heroism, triggering Trump’s ire).

Disclosure: The author’s wife works as an adviser to Scott Walker.