jeff, when you think back to the last debate, the fox debate, i think there were some 5,000 people or so in that auditorium or several thousand people at the very least. and you can really hear that. this is a much smaller audience as you said about 500 or so seats. and they re very, very close to these candidates. absolutely. you can see ben carson looking right now. each seat, anderson, has a name on it where an invited guest will be sitting. so he presumably is looking for where some of his advisors or maybe family members will be sitting. candidates often do that, look for a touchstone in the audience to see a comfort level perhaps as they re debating here, someone to perhaps fetch an eye to so you can see as he s walking through seeing who else is on this invite list here on this stage, anderson. i want to thank david axelrod, john king, gloria borger. we re going to take a short break. when we come back, what can the candidates expect on stage here
let s start with the trump surge. this is the summer of trump. we are all surprised by it i think. if you look at the cnn/orc national poll he s at 18%. in a crowded field of 17 people 18% puts you on top, a huge player in the race. if you look at the top ten, the fox debate is coming up. donald trump, jeb bush scott walker marco rubio and huckabee. not making the cut is rick perry, rick sanatorium not going to make the cut. what is it robert especially when you talk to the other campaigns, how do they get around trump? almost every campaign resigned themselves to the fact that before the debate trump is likely to be leading the polls. the debate is certainly to be about trump, how he handles himself, how people respond to trump. they are all coming up with trump strategies.
election season and oomph to the fox debate. it s now looking like the last big presidential debate among all the major candidates since donald trump announced early today, not more than a couple hours ago, that he will not be part of the news max debate featuring newt gingerich and rick santorum. donald trump on the phone with us now. donald, why did you do this? the republicans are worried i m going to run as an independent and i certainly have looked at it. in my new book i disclosed in the financial disclosure my net worth and as settings and others things and i m looking at it. if the republicans choose the wrong candidate which is possible and if the economy continues to be bad, which i think it will be because we have independent leadership. neil: so you re raising the distinct possibility of running as an independent. that s right.
are third in the polls now, somewhat distance. don t you have to finish at least third in ames to remain a able candidate. i thought you said i was not third earlier? chris: no, i said you were third. the demon register poll is a credible been. mark poll in iowa had me in 6th7th place a few weeks ago. our goal to something closer to the front. we need to show good progress and i m confident we will as that record from minnesota continues to get out. chris: governor pawlenty thank you for joining us. we will see you thursday night in ames for the fox debate. i m looking forward it to, thank you chris. chris: we are too. our sunday panel weigh in on the gop field and who is likely to come out on top in
are third in the polls now, somewhat distance. don t you have to finish at least third in ames to remain a able candidate. i thought you said i was not third earlier? chris: no, i said you were third. the demon register poll is a credible been. mark poll in iowa had me in 6th7th place a few weeks ago. our goal to something closer to the front. we need to show good progress and i m confident we will as that record from minnesota continues to get out. chris: governor pawlenty thank you for joining us. we will see you thursday night in ames for the fox debate. i m looking forward it to, thank you chris. chris: we are too. our sunday panel weigh in on the gop field and who is likely to come out on top in