The stage at the third Republican debate will look at lot like the last one — but the two men at the center of the stage could be taking some incoming fire.
Donald Trump, who's been atop the polls since he got in, is used to deflecting criticism from his rivals, but Ben Carson has been creeping up and will now be beside him. The soft-spoken GOP neurosurgeon has leapfrogged Trump in Iowa and in some national polls, and the billionaire real-estate mogul has tried to dent Carson's rising star.
Carson didn't have a memorable performance last time, but the stakes are much higher this time now that he's becoming the frontrunner.
Also, former Florida Jeb Bush will be looking to quell fears from donors about his campaign after downsizing. Expect him to take jabs at the person next to him, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, his onetime mentee, who's also been on the rise.
Other lower-tier candidates will just be seeking a breakout moment.
Follow our liveblog below for all the action. Tweet us at #nprpolitics and check out our Twitter Chat with those tweets. Here's our earlier analysis of what each candidate needs to do. And we also have a recap of the four candidates who faced off during the undercard debate at 6 p.m. ET.
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