CNN Undercard Republican Debate: Live Coverage

“Another 9/11 is coming as sure as I’m standing here,” Graham said before the commercial break. “They’re planning it tonight. The ISIL leadership wants to hurt you and your family.” Americans fear another terrorist attack more than they have at any other time since Sept. 11, 2001, partly because of candidate comments such as Graham’s, but also because of similar ones by FBI’s Director James Comey.

Santorum and Graham are an interesting tag-team tonight. Santorum has spent some time trying to explain the Islamic State’s death-cult ideology (they think that they are fighting to fulfil a prophecy that sees them doing battle with the enemy in Dabiq, a town in Syria), which is actually something Obama tried to do in his address last weekend, and Graham, for his part, is doing naming and shaming; he called out Paul and Cruz for not wanting to put boots on the ground in the Middle East. They’re the ones that are putting the most meat on the national security debate. He’s also mentioned his numerous Middle East trips — 36 times! — at least three times so far.