A.B. Stoddard: Trump’s not only story

You thought the first GOP presidential debate was zany, when it was all about Donald Trump? 

Just wait until the next one, which won’t be all about Trump. Take the attention off that man, and anything can happen. 

{mosads}Last time, anticipation focused solely on how the billionaire front-runner would behave and perform on a stage of 10 candidates; it was the only storyline heading into the Aug. 6 showdown in Ohio. 

But next week at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., Trump will share the spotlight with several rivals who have surged in popularity over the last month. And there will be other stories on Sept. 16 about those elected politicians trying to regain momentum in an unpredictable and upended campaign now dominated by outsiders.

Unexpectedly, the first contender to threaten Trump’s front-runner status is the quietest, warmest one of the bunch: Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson is now in second place.

He will likely face tougher questions, as front-runners do. Trump has already questioned Carson’s credentials, saying he isn’t much of a job creator. 

“He’s really a friend of mine. I just think it’s a difficult situation that he puts himself into, to have a doctor who wasn’t creating jobs and would have a nurse or maybe two nurses. It’s such a different world. I’ve created tens of thousands of jobs over the years,” said Trump. Is Carson prepping for a Trump-ing?

Carly Fiorina, who did not qualify for the top-10 debate last time, not only prevailed over her rivals with the lowest poll numbers but by many accounts delivered a better performance than those on the main stage.

As a result, she has zoomed ahead of numerous candidates into the top tier and will need to perform well in this debate to keep her momentum going. 

The former Hewlett-Packard CEO, also seen as an outsider not connected to “the political class,” as she likes to say, will clearly be ready for attacks from all sides. Trump has already
dismissed her record at HP. 

Then there’s Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who delivered a weak and canned performance on Aug. 6. His standing in Iowa — his firewall — has deteriorated rapidly with Trump’s rise. Embarrassing flip-flops ever since have damaged his viability. 

Jeb Bush is slipping in the polls, too, fighting back against Trump’s potent attacks on his “low energy” candidacy and worrying his supporters. The former Florida governor can expect Trump to target him, but he also needs to create a moment on stage that will make him relevant again. 

Another lame debate could spell the beginning of the end for Bush, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich could soon eclipse him as the establishment choice.

Kasich has succeeded early, campaigning hard and advertising heavily in New Hampshire, where polls put him in second place behind Trump. He too will want a standout performance next week to gain traction elsewhere in the early states. 

And where does this leave Trump? Picking fights with the debate moderator, of course. 

He followed up his poor debate performance in Cleveland by
attacking Fox News Channel anchor and co-moderator Megyn Kelly, which succeeded in changing the subject. 

Hugh Hewitt, the conservative radio host who will co-moderate the CNN-sponsored debate with anchor Jake Tapper, was quickly labeled a “third-rate radio announcer” and “gotcha” guy after The Donald failed a pop quiz on the names of terrorist leaders during Hewitt’s show last week. 

It’s not in Trump’s interest to allow others to break up his monopoly on oxygen in the race. 

Trump supporters want him to entertain them and stoke outrage, and he won’t let them down. The show must go on.

Stoddard is an associate editor of The Hill.