CNBC Undercard Republican Debate: Live Coverage

Lindsey Graham answered his first question in tonight’s economic debate with a reference to foreign policy. That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who has followed Graham’s career or campaign. The good news for Graham is that most Republicans, and the ones most likely to win, have taken on very hawkish positions. As I wrote in June, Graham “May Have Already Won.”

Two of the candidates on this stage — Bobby Jindal and George Pataki — are governors touting their records on the economy in their states. But you probably shouldn’t listen to them. As our own Ben Casselman wrote last month: According to most experts, a governor’s power to influence his state’s economy is limited at best, especially in the short term. Governors don’t decide where oil will be discovered, whether a local company will have a big IPO or whether a major employer will close up shop. Most importantly, they don’t control national economic conditions, which can dwarf the effects of decisions made at the state level.