Republican presidential debate important for those not named Trump

Rest of field could gain some ground in tonight’s debate

It’s hard to overemphasize the importance of tonight’s CNN republican presidential debate.

Important, especially for those candidates who’ve taken the biggest beating from the phenomenon that is Donald Trump – guys like Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush and Wisconsin governor Scott Walker.

Absolutely, the stakes are higher and the winnowing process has yet to really begin, says La Crosse county Republican party chair Bill Feehan,

While Walker will share the stage with 10 other candidates, most of the attention is bound to be on the guy in the center – the poll-leading Trump

Tonight’s debate
CNN Republican Primary Debate (Live Stream)
5 p.m. – First round debate
7 p.m. – Second round primetime debate
Location: Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
Moderator(s): Jake Tapper, Dana Bash and Hugh Hewitt
Rules: Split field into Segment B (primetime) and Segment A (remaining candidates getting at least 1% in polls)
Candidates 5 p.m.: Santorum, Jindal, Pataki, Graham
Candidates 7 p.m.: Trump, Bush, Walker, Huckabee, Carson, Cruz, Rubio, Paul, Christie, Kasich, Fiorina