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Caustic and uncomfortable even when these candidates go after each other on a smaller setting. >> no question about. that look, they have to walk that fine line trying to out reagan one another at the same time charting their on pass. >> stick around. more with you in just a moment. just a few hours ago, donald trump finished up his final free debate appearance. he was on board a battleship with actual cannons to go along with the verbal plasts we often see from him. this was billed as a national security speech. he did promise in his words to make our military so big, so strong, so great. but...

>> i think every candidate has a little bit of a different strategy. but for many of them. they need to take on donald trump directly. >> that itself the message they're sending. rand paul said the problem he had in the first debate is he wasn't tough enough on donald trump. i think people in that boat include jeb bush to be sure. i think carly fiorina, ben carson to a certain extent need to engage him directly. then there is a guy like marco rubio who hasn't been in the discussion. maybe he wants to wait this out and let the dust settle for a bit. maybe marco rubio will be talking more about ...

Every block. that's the hope in any case. and we're going to have as much engagement as possible. now, i will say the candidates who want to take the debate and use it as an opportunity to pivot and recite their seven talking points i think they will as in the last debate vanish. the one was engage and have exchanges not with me but with their fellow candidates who i will be asking them to address. i think those will be the ones that voters hear. >> just a few hours ago, donald trump finished his final predebate appearance. he was on board cannons. he promised in his words to make our military...

Such incoming fire. who will emerge as an alternative to him? will he be atakd by all the candidates? perhaps not. jeb bush is a target of the criticism. look for someone to look at his credentials as well. this is lining up to be a fascinating debate if simi valley, california. coming at a critical time in the campaign. john, christine. >> the moderator tonight, cnn's jay taper, anchor of the lead and state of the union. cnn's political correspond ent dana bash and hugh hewitt will join in the questioning. i had a chance to talk to jake. he told me the candidates will have a chance to face of...

Will he be atacked by all the candidates? perhaps not? jeb bush is a target of some of the criticism. look for people for his conservative credentials as well. this is lining up to be a fascinating debate t. second coming at a critical time in the campaign. john and christine. >> critical, indeed t. moderator, cnn's jake taper the cnn political correspondent dana bash and radio host hugh hewitt will join in the questioning. i had a chance to talk to jake about the candidates. he says the candidates will have a clanlsz to face off with each other and front-runner donald trump, but it will fough...