USC Students Anticipate Second GOP Debate

Eleven of the leading GOP candidates -- including Donald Trump and Ben Carson, will duke it out Wednesday evening during the second Republican presidential debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. They'll be joined by Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, John Kasich, Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina.

Several USC students expect that it will be a riveting night as candidates share their perspectives on various issues.

Mary Perez, a junior political science major, is a general member for the USC College Republicans. She expects a lot from Trump and Carson, as well as Rubio and former governor Jeb Bush.

“Immigration is going to be a huge topic, as it is Trump’s signature issue,” Perez said.

Paige Saucyn, a sophomore in film production, is hoping to see Kasich do well among the candidates. “I believe he presented himself very well in the last debate, so I hope he makes more of a name for himself," Saucyn said.

According to Dan Schnur, a political analyst and the director of Unruh Institute of Politics, the public should expect to see the other candidates really attack Trump, while Carson will rise above all of Trump’s shenanigans. A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll says that more than half of the Republican primary voters polled are supportive of either Carson or Trump.

“Apparently, Republicans are supporting someone who has never held [a position] in the public office,” Schnur said. “It is sort of unexpected...Look for Carson, if I were to guess, to try and stay above the fray, and see if he can benefit from not getting involved with that.”

The debate will be broadcast on CNN at 5 p.m. PST/8 p.m. EST. Candidates who did not make the cut, including Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, George Pataki and Lindsey Graham, will have their own debate at 3 p.m. PST/6 p.m. EST before the main show.