ORLANDO — Not all the Republican candidates are huddled in conference rooms with advisers, going over last-minute preparations before the Fox News-Google debate here in Orlando. Some of the participants are a little more relaxed. At lunchtime, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, for example, was hanging around the futuristic media room/playground that Google has provided for the press in the Orlando Convention Center.

Dressed in jeans, sneakers, and a sports shirt, Johnson nibbled on a salad with a couple of aides as various debate staff milled around.  How is he doing?  “I’m here!” Johnson said, which was a major accomplishment, given his exclusion from several previous debates.