What is commonly called a “debate” is hardly that; the candidates don’t disagree on very much, and there are no meaningful exchanges of ideas. It is more accurately described as a group job interview, and it functions more like a beauty contest–the idea is to stand out. Who looks and sounds the most presidential? Who can dominate the stage? Those are the real questions that will be answered tomorrow night.
Trump’s absence is both a challenge and an opportunity for DeSantis. The Hungarian Candidate will be competing, not just with the other candidates, but with Trump’s ghost. Can he control the stage the way Trump does? Will be look larger than life? Will the base look at him and conclude that they would be safe with him in office? Or will he just come across as an angry, sarcastic little man who likes to drone on about wokeness, to the infinite boredom of his audience?
I’m guessing the latter. If anyone has the ability to stand out in this crowd, it’s Christie. That represents his slight chance to unite the anti-Trumpers and win the nomination.