Fox Business Network will host the next round of Republican primary debates tomorrow night — that’s Tuesday, Nov. 10 — co-hosted with The Wall Street Journal.
FBN’s Trish Regan
The 9 p.m. ET roster will feature real estate mogul Donald Trump; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; former HP Inc (HPQ) CEO Carly Fiorina; Ohio Gov. John Kasich; and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
The 7 p.m. ET debate will feature New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who did not meet criteria for the second debate in prime time, along with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum.
The first debate will be one hour, moderated by Fox Business Network’s Trish Regan and Sandra Smith along with WSJ Washington Bureau Chief Gerald Seib. The second debate is two hours, and will be moderated by FBN veterans Maria Bartiromo and Neil Cavuto along with WSJ Editor-in-Chief Gerard Baker.
To get the details on the upcoming debate and what to expect, I talked with Fox Business Network anchor and debate moderator Trish Regan, and had to ask what she thought of Trump’s (ahem) brash demeanor.
Q: There has been lots of armchair quarterbacking over what makes a presidential debate good or bad. Can you tell me, in your own words and opinions, what a good debate looks and sounds like?
A: A good debate is substantive. Voters need a real dialogue about the issues facing our country. Americans deserve it. We need it.
Q: What do you think of prior debates and how the moderators handled things? What would you do the same or differently?
A: A moderator must be a fair, informed questioner. My goal is to make the debate about the issues, the candidates and our country.
Q: Level with me: Do we really need all these people in the “main” debate and the “undercard” debate, too?
A: Absolutely, yes. The best thing about this election cycle has been the engagement of the American voter — as well as the wealth of talented people running for president. One of the common criticisms about political office is, “Who on earth would want to run for it?” So, how great is it that we have so many hats in the ring? I love that Americans are taking part in the political process.
I grew up in New Hampshire, where we have a long political tradition of being “First in the Nation.” Those in the Granite State take on a kind of responsibility when it comes to civic engagement. There’s a joke where one farmer asks the other, “Who are you going to vote for?” And the farmer says with a deadpan face, “Gee, I don’t know. I’ve only met each of the candidates three times.” That’s the kind of engagement I grew up around. So, I’m thrilled that Americas across the country are so connected to this race. The candidates are the ones generating this conversation. They have America talking about the issues. And that’s great.
Q: How do you prepare for something like this, with so many candidates with varied positions and histories?
A: Lots and lots of homework. I’ve been poring through research every night and weekend for weeks. Yes, it’s challenging to have so many candidates — because it’s critical I understand the nuances of their positions. There are a lot issues and a lot of viewpoints, and my job is to know them all. We have an amazing team at Fox, and they are vital in helping me prepare and triple-check everything.
Viewers are also critical in what I do. I connect with them every day on Twitter and on Facebook. I want to know what they think, what they care about — and what they need from our next president.
Q: Lots of campaigns, front-runner and underdog, Democrat and Republican, complain about “fair” time in these things. Is that possible given how complicated debates are in general, and with so many candidates to boot?
A: Quality matters more than quantity. We’ve seen candidates that have had less time make more of an impact than those that have had more time. Ultimately, it comes down to the substance of what the candidate is saying — and whether Americans believe he or she can really get the job done.
Q: Who do you think is perhaps the candidate the pundits and voters most underestimate, or unfairly overlook?
A: It’s still early in the election cycle. We’ve seen candidates trade spots and move up in the mindshare of American voters — so, it’s impossible to predict who will break out next. These debates, however, really serve as forums to provide the candidates with that opportunity.
Q: What issue do you think is most important that isn’t getting attention and that you plan on tackling in the debate?
A: The economy as a whole. I don’t think the recent debates have done enough on this and, let’s face it, the economy is what matters to all of us. From a domestic standpoint, the economy matters because we need to get Americans working in well-paying jobs. Internationally, we sure can’t go very far without a strong economy. The reality is, it’s a lot easier to project power when you’ve got a rip-roaring economy than when you don’t.
Q: FBN is, clearly, a business network. Why is it important to have the debate here and with this group of moderators given the current state of the U.S. economy?
A: Our economic strength is the foundation of our success as a nation. We’re living through challenging times — wages aren’t growing, the Fed has been extraordinarily aggressive, yet we still have anemic growth, and our international status is under threat.
At Fox Business Network, we have the most experienced group of moderators. This is what we do. This is what we cover — and we have a fluency in this subject that is absolutely unrivaled. My background as a journalist has always been the economy. I understand business, I understand the markets and I understand the policies that will enable us to generate growth.
Q: If I give you 20 bucks, will you ask Donald Trump to say something nice about at least three of his opponents?
A: OK, that’s funny (laughs.) But you raise an important point. And this is something that is critical for every candidate. The person that becomes our next president must be able to bridge the gap and get along with politicians on both sides of the aisle. It’s critical to that individual’s success in the oval office — and it’s critical to our future as a nation.
Jeff Reeves is the executive editor of InvestorPlace.com, and contributes to USA Today, CNBC, Fox Business Network, Marketwatch and other leading financial outlets. He is also the author of The Frugal Investor’s Guide to Finding Great Stocks. Write him at editor@investorplace.com or follow him on Twitter via @JeffReevesIP.
