Tonight’s debates on Fox Business should be notable for a number of reasons:
* The undercard debate could be very interesting. If, a year ago, I had told you that there would be two debates—one featuring Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, and Rick Santorum and one featuring Donald Trump, Ben Carson, John Kasich, and Rand Paul—which would you have guessed would be the main event?
* Coming less than a month after the CNBC debacle, Fox Business has the chance to strike a big blow against its chief rival. If they run a competent, incisive show it could leave a real mark.
* And finally there’s this bit of trivia: To the best of my knowledge, tonight will mark the first time a Brit has moderated a GOP presidential debate. The Brit in question is Gerard Baker.
I suspect that a lot of people who know Baker from his role as editor of the Wall Street Journal will be surprised when they hear his accent tonight. I’ve known Gerry since he first started writing for THE WEEKLY STANDARD and two things occur to me about his role tonight.
First, he’s the most Americanized Brit I’ve ever met. Have a look at his ode to football—real football. Also, he has five kids—all girls!—who are totes American. And his understanding of American presidential politics is quite keen because he’s done the work. (I’ve always loved this essay he did while covering the Fred Thompson campaign in 2007.)
Which brings me to the second thing that will likely surprise viewers tonight: Gerry Baker is one of the smartest and most interesting people I’ve met in journalism. I suspect a lot of viewers will be asking themselves tonight if maybe we shouldn’t have him moderate all of the debates.
