At GOP debate marathon, Donald Trump loses steam, Carly Fiorina gains ground

The big question of Wednesday night’s main debate is whether 10 challengers could claim some of the oxygen taken up by Donald Trump. He has defined so many of his challengers and their mission was to find a way to stand out, deliver a strong message and a strong alternative. In other words, each needed to define his or her own identity as a future president and commander in chief. A few succeeded, but others failed.

The challenge: He needed to re-establish himself in the public’s mind as the adult in this race, the one candidate who can be trusted after the “outsider” candidates flame out.

The reality: Bush scored a memorable line defending his brother, former President George W. Bush, for his actions after 9/11: “He kept us safe.” Jeb came across as more reasonable than many of the other candidates, though he scored few points in his sparring matches with Trump, including on immigration issues that he should own by now. Bush survives as perhaps the best default candidate, but did little to enhance his status as the contender of choice.

The challenge: To keep doing what he has been doing, which is inexplicably rising in the polls despite no political experience or expertise in crucial issues.

The reality: Carson seemed outmatched when discussing immigration, national security and other issues. Politely debunked Trump on the non-existing link between vaccines and autism. Carson remained likeable and sincere, if somewhat ill-informed on too many matters. Yet that approach has been working for him so far. We’ll see.

The challenge: To reclaim his 2012 mojo as the competent, tough-talking governor who could take on the Democrats and foreign adversaries without stepping out of character.

The reality: Christie had some good moments, especially his personal recollections of 9/11  and the days following the attacks. He finished strong with the discussion on climate change and avoiding massive government intervention. But his best chance to grab the brass ring was four years ago, not in this crazy, crowded field.

The challenge: Can he convince voters that America needs a bomb thrower for a president, and that he would be a better bomb thrower than Trump?

The reality: Cruz came alive during the Supreme Court discussion, calling justices “philosopher kings.” But he was quiet during much of the debate and, like a few other candidates, smeared Planned Parenthood with baseless lies about what recent videos showed about its operations. Trump still out-Cruzes Cruz in waving the bomb-throwing banner.

The challenge: Was her first debate triumph a fluke, or can she establish herself as a legitimate contender?

The reality: Fiorina killed it. She was prepared, tough and took no prisoners. Hands down the best performance of the night, especially her pitch-perfect response to Trump’s classless remarks about her appearance: “I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said.” She was only candidate to talk, if just briefly, about the need for judicial reforms regarding the scads of nonviolent offenders in U.S. prisons. Her bold statements about her leadership of Hewlett-Packard, though, lose some shine upon closer inspection. Although somewhat humorless, she shows off her homework well, especially her itemization of the needs of a dominant military.

The challenge: Short of his long-time appeal to evangelicals, is there any reason to think Huckabee could or should be president?

The reality: Not really. Huckabee is glib and affable in front of the camera, but he is far, far to the right with his insistence that Christians are undergoing persecution in America.

The challenge: The job of the field’s most moderate candidate was to continue to position himself as a reasonable placeholder in the event the feistier candidates crash and burn.

The reality: Kasich made little of an impression tonight. Rather, he joined the rest of the GOP herd in support of defunding Planned Parenthood and did nothing to set himself apart from the pack.

The challenge: To make himself sound like something more than a voice from the libertarian fringe.

The reality: Paul overcame an early slap from Trump about not even belonging on the stage in the first place. Paul raised some valuable counterpoints on American involvement in the Middle East, and launched a useful conversation on medical marijuana, legalization and states rights. His comment that he should have the right to let his children not get adequate vaccines showed contempt for science — and the health of other children. He’s still on the margins of the race.

The challenge: To remind voters that he remained a serious candidate deserving a closer look.

Rubio had savvy moments that made him sound more knowledgeable and thoughtful than most, including his wheelhouse issue, immigration reform. He sounded strong and hawkish on Iran, certainly a contrast to Trump’s shallow positions. He did himself no harm tonight.

The challenge: He needed to keep the outrage factor high and hope that anti-establishment GOP voters continue to adore him.

The reality: Trump didn’t have it tonight. He seemed sluggish and off pace. His ignorance on many issues is becoming glaringly apparent, emphasized with his utterly incompetent and medically dangerous contention that vaccines cause autism. Sure, the Trump “base” might remain with him, and pundits have written him off, oh, six times already in this campaign. Still, continued bluster and insults do not a president make, and this could be the night Trump’s support starts to sink.

The challenge: To emerge as a candidate with enough gravity to keep a campaign going.

The reality: Barely. Trump stomped again on Walker’s debatable record of success in tax-cutting Wisconsin, and his closing pitch — he’d be the president who wouldn’t back down — felt somewhat unconvincing. Right now this is a campaign going nowhere.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 11:32 PM with the headline "At GOP debate marathon, Donald Trump loses steam, Carly Fiorina gains ground."