after five days, the sun is finally out. i felt like i've been living in seattle. i have been praying to sungard, finally finally. we have sunshine. and i think we can all thank god for that. let's do some texts. greg from texas, i would love to hear what the candidates are going to do about biden's 80,000 new irs agents. my wife is a democrat and i'm a republican and this concerns both of us. married a democrat. good for you. robert from bethpage, new york, somebody get dana perino an airport -- airhorn. she may need it. good luck to dana, all the co-moderators. stay tuned for fox's all-star debate coverage starting now. ♪ ♪

>> larry: we are back live from the ronald reagan library in simi valley, california. oh, our viewers on fox business and fox news who are for fair coverage of today's second republican potential debate. i'm larry kudlow. we are just 30 minutes away from the main event. seven candidates about to take the stage where they will get a second chance to voters why they deserve to be commander in chief. among other things. as we countdown to debate kim weir going to talk to bret baier, kellyanne conway, karl rove, harold ford jr., martha maccallum, laura ingraham, brit hume and bill melugin and i'm going to do all that and 7 1/2 minutes. lets go straight to fox news bill melugin from -- for all the latest. go ahead. take as much time as you want. [laughs] >> i will make it quick, the can they walk-throughs are officially over. we have seen them strolling around the property today. they have all been getting ready for the debate. now, in their own unique ways. nikki haley's campaign told me she has been listening to music

and they expect she's going to have a target on her back to and after that last performance she had in milwaukee. she has been searching the polls. vivek ramaswamy's team telling me he worked out earlier today. he has been playing with his kids. they expect him to get into a couple's kryptonite. they say, don't be surprised if that happened. governor ron desantis' this team you, expect him to lean him on his conservative record and hone in on a theme of reversing the decline of america, the bottom line here, somebody has to do something to shake this race up. donald trump is blown everybody out of the water in the polling without. somebody has got to the step up to the plate and start chipping away. if they don't, trip is going to run away with this thing. if somebody does is somebody going to have a moment tonight? you will have to wait, larry. we were sent a back to you. >> larry: thank you very much. we have sean hannity still ahead on this hour and he will -- know, he is right there. looked at him in all his glory. sean, you are in the spin room. i hear you got some terrific guests coming up. tell us about it.

>> we do. well, it will be postdebate right after the debate is finished. we will have all the candidates. to my right, the governor of california has been holding court with the present here locally. he will join us tonight as well. maybe a little a preview of that state versus state red versus blue debate that will have coming up pretty soon. look, i just want to echo a lot of what i have heard you guys talking about before. there's a lot at stake for all these candidates on that stage today. they are coming and the environment and some of them have been complaining that, why isn't donald trump here and in my view, they are to be glad because he takes a lot of oxygen out of any room that he happens to be in and by far, he is so she has been running away with this whole nomination and so i'm pretty sure there's going to be a lot of effort tonight from all of these candidates on that stage. they are going. they are going to want to distinguish themselves and separate from that pack if they

can. >> larry: thank you, sean. we look forward to all of it. for starting me out tonight's debate moderators, our heroes. stuart varney, dana perino, coanchor of america's newsroom, and cohost of "the five." you have a tough task tonight. dana perino, where are going to start? can you tell us that much? i don't want to blow this thing open. where are you going to start this thing. >> dana: i think you will be happy with where it starts. it is right up your alley and that is the reason is because the energy in this room is probably at work sean is saying is absolutely correct. all the candidates need a big moment but it is because these people here who support the republican party, they are looking for a big moment, too. they are looking for change and they wanted to see if any of these people on stage they can be the -- going into the rest of the primary. >> larry: there is a definite need to break out and establish some momentum. is going to be a competitive debate, i hope. very informative, i hope.

we're going to cover a lot of subjects, not just the economy. crime, the cities, foreign policy, the reporter. you name it. it will be covered and it is going to be a contest between who can break out. >> dana: it is great energy and we are excited to get it started, larry. >> i was going to ask you about that. this is the reagan library. reagan is such a commanding figure. commanding, commanding historical figure. does that make this different than other debates? does that make this different from those from the milwaukee debate? >> dana: larry, you would know better than anybody what it is like here. there is a feeling of dignity and grace of economic freedom. the belief in freedom and as america as a force for good in the world and there's a desire for a lot of people in the party to feel that unity again and we will see tonight. they will be competitive but people are going to be looking someone who can bring people together. >> larry: that classic line from ronald reagan, turn to jimmy carter and said, are you better

off now than you were four years ago? that was a classic came out of a debate. i love to see another classic like that tonight. >> dana: we will see if we can get one. >> larry: all right. i'm sure you will pull it off. stuart varney, dana perino, good luck to our heroes tonight. joining me now, bret baier and, of special report. harold ford jr., cohost of the five. kellyanne conway former counselor to present a trip and fox news contributor and karl rove and former white house deputy chief of staff. and fox news contributor. welcome to all of you. we have gotten several hours to do this. just kidding. kellyanne conway, give us your quick thoughts on this. we have been talked about the half been talk about priore we have been talk about family values. what do you expect to hear from these candidates. >> first i would like to confirm revolution' is reporting. i saw -- so he did work out. secondly, i wanted to hear all the issues tonight and more and i keep hearing everyone is a

moment. i disagree with that analysis. you can't have a moment to undo the former front runner from a person in front runner's lead of 50 some points. you can just have a moment to undo four years of his record. you, and i think, need to be slow and steady to try to chip away at that. and really show tonight how you are the best alternative to the trump and then you are the best alternative to joe biden. so people really need to a split screen and take all this on. i would not go for the humor. i went there for the headline tega wanogho for the insults. i with respect to the voter and the fear was enough to have a substantive conversation. they are here to debate. they are not here to deflect or defer or even that great. they are here to debate. >> larry: karl rove, just to ask you, you have been in the game a very long time. is it better to attack or is it better to talk issues? which do you take place off moe tonight as somebody in this group tries to break away? what is the best path, karl

rove? >> both of them are. you have to do both. he can't do one thing in a debate and hope to succeed. i want to echo what kellyanne said, this is a process. not an event. it is an event but that if it is part of a process but by which these people get themselves better known in front of the american people and particularly republican primary voters. give a bigger sense of who they are, what their values are and so this is going to be, think about this, the biggest moment thus far for each one of them was when they announced because it got national attention but the biggest viewership of what they did was at the last debate and this is likely to be the second-biggest time that they have in front of the american people when in millions of people tune in and say, i want to know more. so both attack and describe what you're going to do and do to our, shared values that motivate you on both of those front. >> larry: i think i got to leave it there, guys but i think they are beating me up on this. we will talk to you later. kellyanne conway and karl rove,

he will come back. you sure? he will still talk to me? >> yes. but i got to hustle here but we got more. we got ma martha maccallum and vacuum in front of us. please stick with us. we are trying to move it fast as lightning speed. ♪ ♪ providing for your family is a top priority. but what happens when you need affordable health care? christian health care ministries could save you up to 40% today.

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>> larry: so looking at the republican candidates tonight, here is a question. what is president biden doing this evening? let's ask fox news jacqui heinrich. what is he doing? >> the president is paying no mind to republicans aiming for the white house right now biden is at his second fundraiser of the night in san francisco and later he will head to phoenix

where he has a couple more fundraisers. and also be honoring the late senator john mccain. the person also acted pretty unbothered by the threat of a government shutdown optimistically saying that nothing is inevitable despite no movement among house republicans on a budget bill that passed both chambers. but the president's team is not within the chance to, other gop priorities today. to the committees had a department was out touting the evidence ahead of the first impeachment inquiry hearing tomorrow and that all happening with the shutdown looming just two days away. the white house team is keeping their focus on that while biden is out raising money, larry. >> larry: all right, thank you, jacqui heinrich. we appreciate it. joining me now, going back to sean hannity, host of the great hannity show. sean, jacqui just reported this. more information about biden scandals. so you think these republican presidential candidates should raise the issue of biden scandals? what you think on that?

>> sean: our absolute worst. i think when you couple it with senator menendez, i think an argument could be made very quickly and it might be what we have 19 democratic senators who want menendez out because now it is cultural corruption. even though it is not being covered by the mainstream media, certain things, certain dominoes are beginning to for. first, new york times, david ignatius, liberal joe. david axelrod, james carr -- van jones. now bellmawr. no, basically talking about joe being old and i have set for the log his time he is weak. he israel. he is struggling cognitively. that cognitive decline seems to be accelerating in my view. but when -- the moment you will know that joe biden is really in trouble in terms of being a candidate in this election cycle, if they start sounding like larry kudlow and sean hannity and start talking about

what i believe is the would be the biggest bribery potentially bribery, money laundering, scandal allegations, i have ever heard in my life. remember, larry, he said over and over, i never once spoke to my son my brother or anybody for that matter. about the foreign business dealings. now, should the candidates bring that up? because he was having meetings with russian oligarchs and others at café milano? >> larry: somebody should. >> sean: i have lily wood. and quickly to what kellyanne and carl was saying that they are both right. debates often are about moments. you know? you know, jack kennedy or for example, go back to ronald reagan. there you go again. or i am not going to let my opponents youth and inexp inexperience, be a factor in this campaign. you just killed it in that second debate after people had questions about his age. >> larry: sean, we are going to see right after the debate. all right, joining us now, martha maccallum, brit hume.

brit hume, good evening. i have not seen you yet this evening. to the candidates punch away at each other, britt? do they talk about some of the serious issues we have been trying to review? how do you see this story tonight? >> it could happen if they don't take some of the others are more than one of the others in a way that requires a response. the hazard you run when you do that, when an attack another candidate is that can they gets a moment to respond. and the candidates who attacked the most get to see the most. so it is not all upside and the other thing is, you can take on a candidate and do the can they harm. we have seen it happen before. the person doing the attacking is not often the beneficiary. so attack politics has its hazards, i would say. and we keep hearing about the need to have moments. the moments that have been cited here in such as the two that

john just mentioned were in one on one can they debate in the general election. it is hard to remember a number, any number of moments that occurred early in the primary season when there's a huge field of candidates on the stage. it is hard to get a moment going in a situation like that. it just is. >> larry: marceaux, i'm hustle up for time. but 30 seconds on what brit just said and you put away or do you go -- 30 seconds, please. >> i think they have to keep in mind that their main audience is on the other side of the camera out there in the country. and then i think a candidate who can connect with people and say to them as i said before, you have a choice in this election. this is not done. that is something that gets to people of a human moment is what -- what i'm looking for. >> larry: all right, thanks ever so much. candidates are going to take the stage next. on kudlow. we will be -- i went into a depression. (how do you feel about that?)

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>> larry: we are waiting for the candidates to come on the stage. meanwhile, let's bring in laura ingraham, host of the ingraham angle on fox news. sorry. so laura, we have covered the waterfront on this show which has gone on for 6 hours and 30 minutes know so far. that was a joke. we talked and issues on this show. you think they are going to talk a tax on this show? where does laura ingraham is a destroyed thing out? >> laura: and i think people like vivek ramaswamy, they know what the audience wants. i think the audience out there is very anxious. they are very worried. about the future of the country. and everyone onstage wants to win. they want to be never would. they don't want to be two, three, zero four. what is the audience watching want to networks they want to know how you, vivek or nikki or how are you going to a leapfrog to and the network and then beating biden? how does that actually work in

practice? i mean, no one is cicero on stage. they are smart people. very accomplished. but since road knew how to debate. you know, the pauses, he understood that. but this is about connecting with the true anxiety of the american people. and then giving them some optimism. how do we get out of this? where you and i you know, worked for reagan and seeing this all play out in the reagan library tonight is a beautiful thing. but he was firm and he was stern when necessary. but then he was optimistic. >> larry: a second. i just want to know the candidates are coming out on the stage. they are starting to assembled. and they are standing up and they are with each other and i hope there's some friendly handshaking. you will see in a moment. here come the photographers. they will take their positions in a few moments. i did not mean to interrupt. please forgive me. >> laura: and look, larry, the debate -- the big debate within

the party has already been won -- won a by the populace. you add up vivek and ron desantis with trump, that is about 84% of the republican electorate. the question is, should 26% of the republican electorate determined the future of the republican party? i guess that could happen. i'm not sure that would be the most successful path forward given the fact that you got to get people to turn out to the polls and you have to give them a sense that they can actually be part of a winning coalition that is growing and optimistic and larry, the words that you like to say a lot to common sense. i. i think you're going to hear appeals to the common sense tonight from all the candidates. they will have their story. >> laura, i think you are right. look, and i'm not a big political. but i think the candidate that connects with the voters on the voters' anxieties and issues dear to their hearts. that is the candidate that the voter walks away remembering. whether it is issues directly or

whether it is anxiety or just cleverness or like you just said, common sense, i think people are desperate for commonsense policies. i just think you are right. i hope it is message driven. if it is a tax refund, i just don't think they will have done their job tonight. give me the last word. >> laura: i agree, larry. we will see attacks from the biden administration and all the big donors who are assembling this week in the bay area for joe biden. they are opening up their wallets for him. but tonight, it is do you really understand what is worrying the country? people are deeply worried. and i think the candidates that do that and actually have a very positive optimistic pat -- pat forde. and i think we are going to have some fun moments. i'm looking forward to it. >> larry: très fix the laura ingraham. thank you ever so much. all right, folks, and back bret baier and harold ford jr. and karl rove. bret baier, i like what i think candidates connect with the

ideas and worries and anxieties that voters have. all the voters. it is not just republicans and democrats. everyone shares a lot of anxieties right now. some anxiety ridden country. that is why i'm pushing that message side of this. >> 100%. listen, i think it is interesting is where your hard work here, it was reflected in our latest poll. very or extremely concerned. inflation, 91%. housing cost, 79%. taxes, 75%. we started that last first debate with questions on inflation. but the candidates really did not take the ball and talk about inflation that much. that is what people are seeing and feeling on their kitchen table and that is what affects their votes. and i think it will be interesting to see how they interact, whether they act differently than they did in the first debate and the shadow of ronald reagan's air force one and whether this venue provides a different atmosphere. i have a better that they are still going to go after each other really hard. >> larry: karl rove, you work and they are going to go eat -- after each other, too. you are in the reagan library

here. the long shadow. the spirit of ronald reagan. you know, he did not particularly like government. he did nothing government solutions were the answers. you think any other candidates will talk like that? not government planning, not big government and socialism, that is what the problem is? we need a change? >> you, and i think most of them will. and look, i think there will be plenty of attacks. but many of the attacks if they are going to be successful are going to be against joe biden and the problems he has created. people, as we have talked about, who can identify with the challenge is, the american people are facing. by describing the problem, describing where it came from and describing the answer that they have all the people i think they are going to come out ahead more than the people who pick a fight, all the time and a necessarily with the people on the stage. >> larry: harold ford, karl dickson. partner. when it be interesting if republicans actually attacked joe biden for a change instead of each other? >> maybe. you meet people where they are in politics. i have been in debates.

two or three times. meet people where they are. to give them the vision of how you're going to solve their problems. how are you going to meet the challenges. if you're able to do that much, i think he has a better chance or i do agree with kellyanne and call make the most, this is a process. i don't think. i don't think i don't think you're going to throw a one liner or a zinger and think that is going to elevate you. nikki haley in the last survey, she talked about her foreign policy credentials talked about where she stood on things and she talked about reproductive rights and she distinguished her self. if someone can do that tonight. >> larry: votes both still matters more than debates. >> let me write that down. >> larry: i don't want to go too far on a limb. the primary words are going to win. kellyanne conway, you know more about politics than i do. i'm making this general idea that the end of the day, the process is votes. the debates, no, it is interesting. the polls, very interesting. primaries and caucuses, kellyanne conway. or and why haven't?

>> to become president of the united states, it is not biology or chemistry. it is math and science. you need more votes than the other people. you just need more votes than your democratic opponent. very few people ever make it. but one quick thing. and were talking about people want something -- someone to fight. they don't -- they want someone who fights for the people. that is the difference and two questions. to are like you? that is the living room test. more important one, are you like me? do we have connected tissue? do you understand my everyday struggles and concerns. >> everyday struggles and concerns, people without thinking, me, too. i'm worried about the same thing. i know we keep coming back to the economy and i know this is fox business night of some kind. really, there you have it. that is what the polls show. back and listen, you have to identify with people and let's remember this is a little surreal and the former president

depending on the poll is lean by 30, 40, 50 points. this is an effort to be the auditor did at the end of the day, the man or woman who is going to stand up against the former president at the end. right now, he is the commanding lead. >> larry: karl rove, he has a commanding lead. how does that influence this debate? i will put that maybe the elephant in the room. but mr. trump has a commanding lead. period. end of sentence. can that be beaten right now? what is your take, karl? >> he is the front runner and buy a lot. is a problem for that is twofold. i think he has emphasized too much and raising expectations and second of all, voters elected to have a contest and they like underdogs and if they see something attractive over the course of these two or three or four debates, there could be a problem being absent on the stage. everybody on the stage of the first debate saw their favorables go up. everyone saw the percentage of the people who said i'm hoping

to vote for him rise. only one can they saw both of his numbers drop in that regard and that was the guy who was absent from the first debate. >> larry: all right. i to go. it is the national anthem, i think. i to talk to conduct and forcefully [indistinct]. kellyanne conway, we got a couple seconds. i will give you the last word. your bet on tonight. go ahead. >> trump is underestimated and the front runner as well. and he hovers very big here even if he is not here. i wanted to hear from everyone. what we'll do differently than cryptid? just with the different styles. is -- >> larry: all right. >> ukraine, crime. >> larry: we got to jump. >> give us something different. from we got to jump. cole young, thank you. i appreciate it. good luck to dana and the others. second republican primary debate starts right now. ♪ ♪ >> high on the hills of california's simi valley, stands

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