Live Blog: Fox News’ Second Tier GOP Candidates Debate

Fox News is calling the warm-up debate among the Republican presidential candidates who have poll numbers from around zero to three percent the “Happy Hour debate.” It begins at 5PM Eastern, and the participants will be Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, Carly Fiorina, George Pataki, Lindsey Graham, and Jim Gilmore.

‘Happy hour’ debate holds big potential for GOP ‘underdog’ to shine.

It’s been called the “happy hour” debate — the 5 p.m. face-off that precedes the prime-time showdown among the top-polling Republican presidential candidates in Cleveland.

But the stakes for those invited to “happy hour” could be even higher.

Seven lower-polling candidates were invited to the 5 p.m. ET Fox News/Facebook debate stage. The smaller pond, it’s an opportunity for at least one of the candidates to make a big splash — and start the buzz that builds a fledgling bid into a serious campaign.

“An underdog is going to emerge from this first debate,” Craig Shirley, a conservative strategist and Reagan biographer, said.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who flamed out of the 2012 race after an infamous debate gaffe, is looking for redemption. Former New York Gov. George Pataki, even though he won’t be on the big stage with Donald Trump, appears poised to hammer the billionaire front-runner. Former HP exec Carly Fiorina has been blunt in saying that, as the only woman in the field, she would be a potent adversary against Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

Any of the seven could have a break-out moment Thursday afternoon that catapults them into the upper mix of the 17 candidates now on the field.

I don’t know. It’s hard to imagine any of those losers breaking through. But another conflict could be between Rick Santorum and Lindsey Graham over this claim from Santorum:

Santorum told Fox News on Thursday he plans to just be “authentic.”

“I did this 22 times the last time around,” said the former presidential candidate.

He said he’ll be able to stand out by pointing to his legislative record as a former senator, fighting to ban partial-birth abortions, enact welfare reform and impose Iran sanctions.

“They’re really isn’t anybody else up there on the stage who has a record of accomplishment in Washington, D.C.,” he said.

Graham has been in Congress a lot longer than Santorum was. He must have a few accomplishments.

I hope I’m not going to be alone in watching this thing. If you’re doing so, please share your observations in the comment thread below.

I’ll put up a separate post for the 9:00 main event.