Debates take toll on Republican field

Televised debates have had an outsize impact on this year’s Republican presidential race. But the demands of the debating schedule is taking its toll on the candidates, who find themselves constantly preparing for primetime. The frequency of the debates cuts back on the time available for retail politicking in Iowa and other early-voting states. Even seasoned campaign veterans are now beginning to ask: How many debates are too many? Political professionals note that debates — the preparation, the logistics, the debate itself and the post-event ‘spinning‘ — take up an enormous amount of time. It is plausible that some of that time could be better spent building up the grassroots in Iowa and New Hampshire.