Instead, the test will be of “who can craft the best one-liners and deliver them at the debate,” said Rick Santorum, who participated in the full calendar of Republican debates during the 2012 presidential election, and, despite being the runner-up for the nomination that cycle, won’t make the cut for Thursday’s prime-time stage, which is reserved for the top 10 candidates in an average of national polls. Instead, the former senator will spar among the six lowest-ranking candidates a few hours before the main event.

“All the candidates know that giving any kind of substantive answer is a mistake,” Santorum said. “And all you have to do is have zingers.” 

As a result, the process of preparing for a primary debate, particularly at this early stage in the election cycle, bears little resemblance to the intensive regimen candidates undergo during the general election.