Milwaukee - The fourth Republican presidential debate begins Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET with a tighter 90-minute running time and two fewer candidates on the Milwaukee Theatre stage.
Much is at stake in the nation's newest version of must-see reality TV. Here are six things we're watching.
1. Ben Carson in the spotlight. The neurosurgeon has a new target on his back with reports questioning his claim that West Point offered him a scholarship and other key elements of the biography he's leveraged to win over evangelical voters. He's hit back with a go-to defense - accusing the media of a "witch hunt" - but his opponents may disagree. Billionaire Donald Trump has already suggested he may pound Carson on the issue.
2. Can Jeb Bush Fix It? The former Florida governor may have the most to lose - or gain - in tonight's debate. After three flat debate performances, he's tried to reboot his campaign with a "Jeb Can Fix It" tour that invokes his eight years in Florida's top job. But he remains stuck in the single digits in national polls despite financial firepower that's helped raise more than $100 million for his White House bid. His supporters will be watching for signs of a newly aggressive candidate, and his detractors are hoping for a listless performance. As conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer said, if Bush has another poor debate "he'll really be dead man walking."
3. Marco Rubio on the defensive. The Florida Republican had what many analysts viewed as a breakout performance in last month's debate in Colorado, where he fended off attacks from his in-state rival Bush. He can expect more attacks tonight from Bush and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who views Rubio as one of his biggest obstacles to the nomination. Cruz fired an initial salvo last week when he labeled Rubio a "moderate." Expect more of the same tonight.
4. Has Donald Trump plateaued? Polls show the bombastic developer still pacing the field. But his numbers have hardly budged in weeks, and Carson has inched into a statistical tie with Trump in some of the early voting states. Fresh off a self-deprecating performance on "Saturday Night Live," the frontrunner will seek to squelch Carson's momentum and pick up some outsider support.
5. Chris Christie's comeback bid. The New Jersey governor, along with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, were both relegated to the undercard — an earlier debate along with two lesser-known rivals — due to dismal poll standings. Christie, who was beginning to show traction in some national polls, tried to portray it as a minor setback. But losing much-needed national exposure - the three previous debates have been ratings bonanzas - could be fatal to his campaign.
6. Moderating the moderators. The media may be under the most scrutiny. The campaigns and candidates erupted at CNBC's moderators after last month's debate over what they deemed to be slanted "gotcha" questions. This time, it's the Fox Business Network in the pilot's seat as millions of Americans tune in for what hosts promise to be a "real debate" with skeptical, but not snarky, questions. The candidates will be poised to hit back hard at any hint of media bias.
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