Ted Cruz, who’s struggling to retake the Iowa polling lead, will get a chance to impress voters without Donald Trump around in Thursday’s debate. (Getty)
With a tight polling race in Iowa, the candidates will get one more chance to make their mark with the voters in tonight’s Iowa debate. It’s an important moment for every candidate, but especially so for candidates running at the back of the pack: in the Iowa caucus, a candidate must take 15 percent of caucus-goers at each caucus location, or their supporters will be forced to choose another candidate or leave.
They’ll have more chances to do so: Donald Trump, who has taken the lead in Iowa polls and shows strongly in New Hampshire and nationally, has chosen to skip the debate over his long-running feud with Fox News host and debate moderator Megyn Kelly, instead hosting a competing event on CNN. Kelly will join Bret Baier and Chris Wallace.
Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, John Kasich, and Rand Paul will appear on the main stage at 9 p.m Eastern. An earlier “undercard” debate will start at 7 p.m. Eastern and feature Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Jim Gilmore.
Here’s what you need to know:
DATE: January 28, 2016
TIME: Undercard 7 p.m. Eastern; Main Stage 9 p.m. Eastern
CHANNEL: Fox News
MODERATORS: Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly, Chris Wallace
LOCATION: Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, Iowa
LIVESTREAM: Click here for all the livestream details.