CBS Republican Debate: Live Coverage

Apparently this is going to be the tone of the rest of the debates. They’ve already been through all the major issues in the previous hundreds of forums — how many times have we heard the same immigration tape loop, the same refrain on eminent domain and postcard tax returns? — but there are an infinite number of ways to insult each other and their families, an endless path to feigned anger over the latest ad or stray remark. To keep voters watching, and to stand out from the white noise, most of the candidates apparently feel they have to boil over on camera. Eventually, of course, that will become tiresome, too.

My final thought is — how is Ben Carson still in the race? His low-single-digits poll number compatriots Carly Fiorina and Chris Christie have dropped out post-New Hampshire, his campaign seems from all accounts to be massively dysfunctional, and I guess I just find it striking, looking at this winnowed field on the debate stage, that Carson has remained.

This was the nastiest debate in a while. Clearly, the candidates know the field will winnow and time is running out. I don’t know if this debate will upend Trump’s lead, but it’s not from a lack of trying from the other candidates.