What to watch for in Tuesday’s GOP debates

By Scott Lucas

Monday, Dec. 14, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Tuesday’s Republican presidential debates may be remembered as a moment of clarity in the race. After a long campaign season, early primary voting is just over the horizon, leaving candidates little time to start making their closing pitches to GOP voters in Nevada and around the country in a race that has increasingly centered on Islamic terrorism and the Middle East.

Here are some of the most important questions the debates will help answer.

Has Donald Trump finally gone too far?

The real estate developer’s call to ban Muslims from entering the United States drew widespread condemnation, which NPR called “without parallel in recent decades,” including denouncements from foreign leaders, religious groups and members of the press. BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith told the site’s reporters that it would be “entirely fair to call him a mendacious racist,” adding that it's a judgement “rooted in facts, no opinion.”

The question Tuesday will be how Trump’s competitors react.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has mostly shied away from directly criticizing Trump, but the New York Times reported that he told donors that he questioned the businessman’s “judgement” to be president, signaling that as his polls begin to climb in Iowa, Cruz may go on the offensive. Similarly, on CNN , Florida Sen. Marco Rubio called Trump’s proposal “unconstitutional,” suggesting he may continue the criticism at the debate.

Other candidates, many of whom have indicated they disagree in part or in whole with Trump on the issue, may try to press for an advantage as well.

Will Rubio and Cruz cross swords?

Both men are widely considered to be stronger than their poll numbers indicate because either could coalesce voter support as an alternative to Trump. The problem with that strategy? It only works for one of them. The two 44-year old Cuban-American senators have so far only sparred through surrogates, but Tuesday’s debate may be the moment they trade obliqueness for obviousness.

Will Jeb Bush keep on being the incredible shrinking man?

Despite entering the race with considerable advantages — name recognition, experience in office and a network of donors — Bush has struggled mightily to connect with Republican voters. On Friday, his national strength was measured at 5 percent in the Huffington Post’s Pollster, placing him in fifth and dropping. Bush, who has seemed awkward on the stump, is beginning to run out of time to turn his bid around. A strong performance Tuesday could be the start of his comeback — or the beginning of the end.

Will Ben Carson regain footing on foreign policy?

The Ben Carson boom may have passed, as Republican voters concerned about foreign policy and terrorism seem to have moved away from supporting the retired neurosurgeon over the past month. Carson has done himself few favors — repeatedly mispronouncing the name of militant Palestinian group Hamas in a speech just weeks after his own advisors said the candidate was struggling to master foreign policy issues. As concerns about Islamic terrorism continue to dominate the Republican race, Carson may not have much time to cram.

Who will pop on the JV squad?

Carly Fiorina and Chris Christie (who have moved into the prime-time spot in Las Vegas) each have benefited from strong performances at the undercard debates, while candidates such as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Texas Rick Perry failed to connect — and subsequently dropped out of the race. Were a candidate such as Mike Huckabee or Rick Santorum to create a moment to shine, it would dramatically improve their standing — but many of them have failed so far.