Good Wednesday morning, Millennial Memo readers. Welcome to the main event; we are exactly one day away from the first Republican debate! While everyone is finalizing their last-minute zingers, hopefully they’re also brushing up on student debt and college affordability — the number one issue among American parents. Here’s a preview of what we might hear. Share this preview of what we might hear, and encourage your colleagues to stay in the loop by signing up for Millennial Memo here.

MEASURING UP MILLENNIALS: According to a new Fox News poll of 1,300 registered voters, Millennial voters approve of President Obama’s job performance by a nearly 2:1 margin (59% to 30%). The poll also finds Secretary Clinton’s support with younger Democratic primary voters (45%) lags that of older Democratic primary voters (56%). Vice President Biden polls 5% better with younger Democratic primary voters than older Democratic primary voters (16% vs. 11%). Senator Sanders polls 12% better with younger Democratic primary voters than older Democratic primary voters (29% vs. 17%).

TRUMP LEADS RIVALS NEARLY 3-TO-1 AMONG YOUNG REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS: The same Fox News poll found that among younger Republican primary voters (18- to 44-year-olds), Donald Trump leads former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) by a nearly 3:1 margin (35% to 13%). Dr. Ben Carson rounds out the top 3 preferred candidates among younger Republican primary voters with 9%.

WALKER HOLDS OVER $100,000 IN STUDENT DEBT FOR SONS’ COLLEGE EDUCATION: According to a new personal financial disclosure filed by Governor Scott Walker, the Governor holds between $100,001 and $125,000 in outstanding U.S. Department of Education federal student loan liabilities. These loans have an interest rate up to 7.21 percent. The disclosure notes that these loans were taken out to cover the educational expenses of Walker’s sons. Walker’s elder son, Matt, attends Marquette University. Walker’s young, Alex, attends the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

BUT WALKER IS NOT ALONE, CRUZ REFERENCES SIX-FIGURE LOAN DEBT IN SKIMM CANDIDATE INTERVIEW: When asked about the state of student loans by the Skimm, Cruz said: “I understand this first-hand….when I came out of college and grad school, I had six-figures in student loans. I just paid off my student loans five or six years ago. Economic growth is critical to young people because if we want this generation to be able to pay off their loans and develop the skills to live the American dream, we’ve got to return to an environment where small businesses are growing and flourishing, and creating jobs and opportunities. That’s my top priority.”

WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT UNLEASHING SMALL BUSINESSES?: The Philadelphia Business Journal reports: “A Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia study shows that the rise of student debt correlates to a decline in U.S. small business formation. Fed researchers found that small firms consisting of one to four employees decreased by 17 percent in counties where relative student debt grew by about 2.7 percent. Across the country, these small businesses account for about one-half of the private sector economy and 99 percent of all businesses. The stymying effect derives from the inability of those who wish to start a business to access capital in the form of more debt. The study cites a 2004 survey of startup firms, which says the smallest businesses with zero employees need average financing of $44,793, more than half of which comes in the form of debt.”

UNH PROFESSOR CITES STUDENT DEBT IN ENDORSEMENT: Writing in the Fosters Daily Democrat, New Hampshire State Senator and University of New Hampshire english professor David Watters endorsed Secretary Clinton’s candidacy because she “has the right ideas — about education, economic opportunity for all,.. and most importantly, our children’s future… She [has] presented a workable plan to make college more accessible and to reduce student debt. As a professor at UNH, I know firsthand the burden student debt places on our students.”

PAUL TALKS HIGHER ED TAX DEDUCTION PLAN AT VOTERS FIRST FORUM: When asked about how he would help relieve student debt at the Voters First forum in New Hampshire on Monday, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) said: “You can’t just offer free education, but I think tying it to work and making it deductible is a good idea.”

GILMORE CALLS DEBT A NATIONAL CRISIS: Speaking at the Republican Leadership Summit in Nashua, New Hampshire earlier this year, former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore (R-VA) said: “I believe that at the national level we can make a commitment to higher education. Not usurp the states. We can use that bully pulpit to make it clear that this is a crisis and it must be addressed. This high expenditure without any type of oversight or accountability. The increase of administrators and not teachers. The expenses that are being loaded onto students. The increased debt is a national crisis. And I believe it can be addressed from Washington somewhat by leadership and working with the governors in order to address this problem nationwide.”

The controversial idea that could lower student debt, The Washington Post, Danielle Douglas-Gabriel

For Young Voters, Crushing Student Debt Is Front and Center, NPR, Asma Khalid

Colleges in the 2016 crosshairs, Politico, Kimberly Hefling