Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The second GOP Presidential debate takes place at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on Wednesday night, which is considered hallowed ground for the Republican party. The backdrop is the actual Air Force One President Ronald Reagan used to fly on.
"The ratings for the first debate, without former President Donald Trump in August, were not what they would have been if Trump had been there, but they were pretty healthy," said Republican Strategist Carl Calabrese, on WBEN Wednesday.
He said Trump's absence, will allow other candidates to try to break through.
"People will be able to center on Ron DeSantis. He is still the strongest challenger to Donald Trump, although his stature is dropping and his poll numbers are dropping. In fact, in New Hampshire, Trump is number one followed by Chris Christie and DeSantis is in third place."
Calabrese said DeSantis has had three re-boots of his campaign already and he suspects he will be the target Wednesday night of both Christie and Nikki Haley.
What happened to DeSantis? Calabrese points to 2016 and the failed campaign by former Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin.
"Walker said one of the reasons he flamed out, was because he listened to consultants. He wasn't himself. They told him to run a Wisconsin campaign. He said that's not what people want. They want bold vision. The only person offering that was Donald Trump." Calabrese said DeSantis is doing the same thing.
Who are the candidates on the stage talking to?
Calabrese said they're talking to Republicans, and those who are undecided. Or, he said they're talking to Republicans who say they like Trump, but are open to other candidates.
"Nikki Haley got the biggest bump in the last debate. It was interesting because in the first two days following the debate, Republicans thought DeSantis and Ramaswamy did the best. But in subsequent days, it was Haley who moved the most in the polls. On the national level, she is leading President Biden by 6 points, where just about everybody else is dead even with him."
Calabrese said Haley had the most movement within the party and within the general electorate.
"I think we'll see her attempt to continue that momentum."