The Republicans have the first of, I'm sure, many so-called debates coming up soon on August 6th. I say "so-called debate" because ten candidates will not be able to interact with one another during a 90-minute show. Assuming introductions and questions by the moderator take up only 10 minutes, that leaves just 8 minutes of speaking time that any candidate can expect to make his/her points. I suspect it will simply be a question-answer time between the moderator and each candidate. Still the nation will have an initial opportunity to hear the hopefuls express their views on specific topics. Hopefully, this program will unfold with dignity and respect. If speakers begin attacking or interrupting one another, it will quickly become the comic sideshow that we saw four years ago. May as well ask Simon Cowell to produce the show.The problems for the Republicans are:
1. There are too many candidates, and some of them cannot be considered seriously. Candidates probably will not begin dropping out of this race until after the first primaries. That means we'll have this current cast of characters vying for press time for the next six months and several more TV stage appearances. As for candidates not to be taken seriously, I tentatively withdraw that comment, as one never knows what may happen.
2. Once again, Republican candidates must walk a fine line between two sets of voters without seeming to change their views. First they need to appeal to primary voters who are skewed toward the conservative. That means they must indicate support for things like abortion bans, immigration restrictions, certain religious freedoms, gun ownership and restraints on government (entitlements and control that is, not military support.) The party's nominee, on the other hand, will need to broaden his/her appeal to a larger segment of the general population to stand a chance of winning the general election. Of course that also depends on how badly the Democrats perform.
Democrats have their own set of challenges. Mrs. Clinton is overwhelmingly expected to win the nomination. However, she has been "running" for president for the past 16 years and has been in the national spotlight for 24 years. Yesterday's news? Her closest rival right now is a left wing Independent. Those debates are bound to be interesting in their own way.
I'll try to have more to say soon. Thanks for reading, and God bless.
