Republican Candidates Prepare to Hit Trump at Second Debate

5 minute read
Updated: | Originally published: ;

The Republicans’ second presidential debate is shaping up to have all the hallmarks of a Hollywood blockbuster: drama, high-speed collisions and, of course, the fiery explosions. Donald Trump, of course, is getting the star billing at the CNN production.

The White House hopefuls are set to clash—and maybe crash—Wednesday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library near Los Angeles for a pair of back-to-back forums, split among those who are polling atop the field and the also-rans. As with their first forums, all eyes will be focused on Trump, the brash billionaire who is leading polls and in potshots aimed at his rivals.

Inside rival campaigns, advisers are all trying to come up with a plan to deflate Trump. During the first debate, most tried to keep Trump at arm’s length and, with the exception of Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, none tried to confront Trump on his thin record as a Republican. That approach worked for the first session, but it’s not a winning strategy going forward, especially with Trump outpacing more serious candidates in the polls by factors of three or four.

LIFE's Best Convention Photos: The GOP

Scene at the 1968 Republican National Convention, Miami Beach, Florida.
Scene at the 1968 Republican National Convention, Miami Beach, Florida.Ralph Crane—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Scene at the 1968 Republican National Convention, Miami Beach, Florida.
Scene at the 1968 Republican National Convention, Miami Beach, Florida.Lynn Pelham—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Go-go girl and delegates during the 1968 Republican National Convention, Miami Beach, Florida.
Go-go girl and delegates during the 1968 Republican National Convention, Miami Beach, Florida.Lynn Pelham—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Arizona politician and future U.S. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst (left) confers with Nebraska's Richard Herman during the 1964 GOP National Convention in San Francisco.
Arizona politician and future U.S. Attorney General Richard Kleindienst (left) confers with Nebraska's Richard Herman during the 1964 GOP National Convention in San Francisco.Bill Ray—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Ronald Reagan at the 1964 Republican National Convention in San Francisco.
Ronald Reagan at the 1964 Republican National Convention in San Francisco.Ralph Crane—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Scene during the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago.
Scene during the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago.Michael Rougier—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Not originally published in LIFE. During the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago, Martin Luther King Jr. leads a demonstration calling for a strong Civil Rights plank in the GOP campaign platform.
Not originally published in LIFE. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (center) During the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago, Martin Luther King Jr. leads a demonstration calling for a strong Civil Rights plank in the GOP campaign platform.leading Negro demonstration for strong Civil Rights plank in COP campaign platformFrancis Miller—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Scene during the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago.
Scene during the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago.Michael Rougier—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Scene during the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago.
Scene during the 1960 Republican National Convention in Chicago.Michael Rougier—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Scene at the 1956 Republican National Convention, San Francisco, California.
Scene at the 1956 Republican National Convention, San Francisco, California.Ed Clark—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Left to right: President Dwight D. Eisenhower, his wife Mamie, Richard M. Nixon and his wife, Pat, at the 1956 GOP National Convention, San Francisco, California.
Left to right: President Dwight D. Eisenhower, his wife Mamie, Richard M. Nixon and his wife, Pat, at the 1956 GOP National Convention, San Francisco, California.Hank Walker—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Scene at the 1956 Republican National Convention, San Francisco.
Scene at the 1956 Republican National Convention, San Francisco.Leonard McCombe—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Chairman of the Republican National Committee Arthur E. Summerfield on the telephone during the 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.
Chairman of the Republican National Committee Arthur E. Summerfield on the telephone during the 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.George Skadding—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Control booth, 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.
Control booth, 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.Cornell Capa—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Bertha Baur, a prominent figure at conventions for decades and a long-time member of the Republican National Committee, in an elephant hat at the 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.
Bertha Baur, a prominent figure at conventions for decades and a long-time member of the Republican National Committee, in an elephant hat at the 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.Francis Miller—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Pennsylvania Governor John Fine (left) and Arthur Summerfield chat in private during the 1952 Republican National Convention in Chicago.
Pennsylvania Governor John Fine (left) and Arthur Summerfield chat in private during the 1952 Republican National Convention in Chicago.Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Republicans hold an informal conference in a kitchen during the 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.
Republicans hold an informal conference in a kitchen during the 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.Cornell Capa—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Vice-presidential nominee Richard Nixon and his wife Pat talk with photographers during the 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.
Vice-presidential nominee Richard Nixon and his wife Pat talk with photographers during the 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.Ralph Morse—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Scene at the 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.
Scene at the 1952 GOP National Convention in Chicago.Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Scene at the 1948 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia.
Scene at the 1948 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia.Gjon Mili—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Scene at the 1948 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia.
Scene at the 1948 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia.Gjon Mili—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Pennsylvania delegates to the 1944 Republican National Convention in Chicago pull cold beers from a tub of ice after a caucus meeting.
Pennsylvania delegates to the 1944 Republican National Convention in Chicago pull cold beers from a tub of ice after a caucus meeting.Thomas McAvoy—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Delegates listen to Herbert Hoover during the 1944 Republican National Convention in Chicago.
Delegates listen to Herbert Hoover during the 1944 Republican National Convention in Chicago.Gordon Coster—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A model wears a bathing suit in a fashion show at Ohio senator Robert Taft's headquarters during the 1940 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia.
A model wears a bathing suit in a fashion show at Ohio senator Robert Taft's headquarters during the 1940 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia.William C. Shrout—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
A young Republican rests on a sofa in the Hotel Adelphi during the 1940 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia. ("Van" is Sen. Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan, long considered a front-runner for the GOP nomination; instead, the Republicans nominated Indiana's Wendell Willkie, who lost the election to the Democratic incumbent, FDR.)
A young Republican rests on a sofa in the Hotel Adelphi during the 1940 GOP National Convention in Philadelphia. ("Van" is Sen. Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan, long considered a front-runner for the GOP nomination; instead, the Republicans nominated Indiana's Wendell Willkie, who lost the election to the Democratic incumbent, FDR.)David E. Scherman—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

“We kept waiting for him to do himself in. That hasn’t happened, so it’s time to help that process along,” one adviser to a Trump rival said. Added a second campaign’s strategist: “If we don’t as a party change our posture, we’re looking at another President Clinton. Hillary will beat Donald Trump in 49 states if he’s our nominee. And I’m not sure she doesn’t pick up Texas, too.”

Ahead of the debate, to be held beside Reagan’s retired presidential airliner, candidates were already trying out their attacks. “If you don’t know the answer to these questions, then you are not going to be able to serve as commander and chief,” Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said, pointing to Trump’s struggle to answer questions about foreign policy. “There’s nothing behind the curtain,” Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina says of Trump. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was even more direct, calling Trump a “madman.”

None is as irked by Trump as former Florida Gov. Bush and his advisers. Through the summer, Bush’s team insisted they keep focused on the slow slog of building traditional campaign support with town hall-style meetings, business roundtables and stops to meet voters casually. Each passing poll found support crumbling as Trump hammered Bush as another establishment pawn.

Finally, Bush started firing back, piqued that Trump continuously calls him “low-energy.” “Look, this guy is the frontrunner,” Bush said during a stop in Virginia. “He should be treated like a frontrunner, not some kind of alternative universe to the political system.”

The remark was a hint that Bush is eager for Trump to face tough questions about his record. Bush’s team has been scouring Trump’s business records, previous statements and political giving. “Trump is going to see what low-energy looks like,” said one Bush adviser who is not on campaign payroll.

Other campaigns, too, were sharpening their lines of criticism again Trump, who for the first months of the campaign was treated largely as a political oddity and not legitimate contender. A pile-on—or a pile-up—could be in the works if it looks like Trump is knocked off balance by a question. The most obvious candidate for fireworks will be Trump’s comment about the only woman in the race.

Trump drew widespread criticism when he said of former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina: “Look at that face! Would anybody vote for that?” Advisers to rival campaigns say they will take their cues from Fiorina, who used a winning show in last debate’s undercard matchup to claw her way into the top-tier forum. Fiorina is poised with her barbs and has been practicing how to capitalize on Trump’s rudeness.

MORE: Read the Full Text of the Primetime Republican Debate

But, Trump’s rivals acknowledge, there is an inherent risk of criticizing Trump. His supporters are rallying behind Trump because he is such an outsider. An insider’s attack is only going to reinforce Trump’s supporters’ belief that he could genuinely upend the Washington gridlock they profess to loath. And Trump has proved himself a skilled debater; his counter-punch is stronger than anyone’s on that stage.

“The polls are really looking good,” Trump tweeted as he arrived in Los Angeles. “#1 everywhere despite all lobbyist & special interest $ being spent against me.”

As with the first debate, on Fox News, this one will be split into two groups based on polling. CNN will have a first session with former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Jindal, former New York Gov. George Pataki and Graham. After a brief intermission, CNN will ask questions of Trump, Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Rubio, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Paul, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Fiorina.

Meet Donald Trump's Family

Ivana Trump Ivanka Trump
Left: Ivanka Trump with her mother, Ivana, in 1992; Right: Ivanka in New York City in February 2015.Ben Coster—Camera Press/Redux; Gilbert Carrasquillo—Getty Images
Donald Trump Jr. Donald Trump
Left: Donald Trump Jr. and Donald Trump in 1988; Right: Donald Trump Jr. in New York City in April 2011.Ron Galella—Getty Images; Gilbert Carrasquillo—Getty Images
Eric Trump Donald Trump
Left: Eric Trump and Donald Trump in 2007; Right: Eric Trump in New York City in October 2013.James Devaney—Getty Images; Astrid Stawiarz—Getty Images
Marla Maples and Tiffany Trump
Left: Marla Maples and Donald Trump's daughter Tiffany on March 19, 1996 in New York City; Right:Tiffany Trump attends Barbie and CFDA Event on Sept. 5, 2014 in New York City.Gregory Pace—Sygma/Corbis; J Carter Rinaldi—Getty Images
Barron Trump and Melania Knauss
Left: Donald Trump's son Barron with his mother Melania at the FAO Schwarz in New York City; Right: Barron Trump with his father, Donald Trump and mother, Melania Knauss on Feb. 16th, 2015.Left: Jamie McCarthy—Getty Images; Right: Mike Pont—NBC/Getty

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Write to Philip Elliott / Los Angeles at philip.elliott@time.com