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2016 MILLENNIAL MEMO (CNBC Republican Debate Day Edition)

2016 MILLENNIAL MEMO (October 28, 2015 — Republican Debate Day Edition)

376 days to go…

Morning Millennial Memo readers! We’ve got all eyes on the University of Colorado-Boulder tonight, the site of tonight’s Republican Presidential Primary debate. Instead of accusing his competitors of being “low energy,” maybe Donald Trump will start labeling them “granola.” We are in Colorado after all. Here’s our list of the top 5 things to watch for in tonight’s debate.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: Will the GOP candidates finally get a question on student debt and/or college affordability?

REPUBLICANS FOR REFI: For years, Democrats have made refinancing federal student loans a centerpiece of their agenda to reduce the burden of student debt. This cycle, they’ve been joined by a number of Republican presidential candidates in speaking positively of the concept. Will the contingent of Republicans open to refinancing grow after tonight? Stay tuned…

Here’s Young Invincibles’ tally of Republican presidential candidates that have expressed support for student loan refinancing: Donald TrumpGov. Chris ChristieGov. Mike Huckabee, and Sen. Lindsey Graham.

IN-STATE SHOWDOWN: Immigration has been center stage this cycle, but higher ed’s intersection with the issue has largely escaped headlines in the Republican Primary. Multiple Republicans — including establishment frontrunners Sen. Marco Rubio and Gov. Jeb Bush — have endorsed expanding access to in-state tuition rates for undocumented students. Will more join the fold, or will the issue become a new political weapon in the race for the Republican nomination?

THE GHOST OF TRUMP UNIVERSITY’S PAST: New polls out this week may show him falling to second place in Iowa, but RealClearPolitics still has the Donald leading the race for the Republican Primary polls. New polls out this week may show him falling to second place in Iowa, but RealClearPolitics still has the Donald leading the race for the Republican Primary polls. Will his competitors try to paint the mogul and his infamous Trump University venture as a liability when it comes to his higher education platform?

MARCO’S MOMENT: No Republican Primary candidate has put higher education and student debt reform front and center in their campaign quite like Senator Rubio. With CNBC signaling that candidates will be asked about their plans on student debt, will Marco seize the moment and connect with Millennial voters?