CNBC Undercard Republican Debate: Live Coverage

CNBC wants us to know this debate is about “your money.” So how much of our money would we bet on these four candidates? Ella Koeze: $0 Andrew Flowers: $0 Hayley Munguia: $0 Leah Libresco: $0, I can do better elsewhere. Or $1 as a gag xmas gift for someone. Blythe Terrell: $0 Carl Bialik: -$100 Harry Enten: Can someone just kill me instead?

Here’s a slightly less cynical take on that, Harry (and Samuel). Yes, it’s still really early and voters aren’t paying that much attention to the campaign. But these debates are getting good ratings, and it’s one of the few times these voters are getting to see the GOP candidates speak on their own terms, instead of through the filter of what editors and reporters and producers think is important. In particular, it’s one of the only times they’re seeing a lot about candidates other than Donald Trump. I’d be in favor of having more debates, not fewer.

https://twitter.com/samuelisaac/status/659488014091980801 The answer is that most voters aren’t paying attention to the race right now. These debates provide very little information to them but are important in slimming the field from the 15 (see Perry, Rick and Walker, Scott).