Aside from Donald Trump’s likely absence from tomorrow’s GOP debate in Des Moines, there are threeother interesting developments. First, Rand Paul’s return to the main debate stage. Second, Carly Fiorina remains stuck on the undercard. Lastly, Jim Gilmore is in fact alive.

As you will recall, Rand Paul was relegated to the undercard debate earlier this month in South Carolina, but declined to participate so he could campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire. Carly Fiorina was also demoted, but opted to share the stage with Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee. At the risk of second guessing, it would seem that Paul’s decision not to participate has paid off. Naturally, hindsight is 20-20. There was a compelling argument for Fiorina to participate in the debate. After all, Chris Christie experienced a similar demotion in November and made the most of his opportunity on the undercard debate and has come back to the main stage and has a shot at the GOP nomination (albeit a very slim one.) No doubt Fiorina was hoping for the same boost. Yet despite another good debate performance it appears to have been all for naught. In retrospect, a case could be made that by returning to the GOP undercard debate stage Fiorina reinforced the notion that she was a second tier candidate.

By contrast, Paul’s campaign maintained he was a “top tier candidate”. While that would be a stretch his decision not to participate in the debate was apparently good enough to warrant a return to the center ring. The question is what role Paul will perform in this debate. In his last debate appearance in December, Paul spent most of the evening attacking Marco Rubio (even with Donald Trump on stage). My guess is that he will go after both Rubio and Ted Cruz with equal measure  with Iowans caucusing only 72 hours following the debate.

As for the undercard debate, Fiorina, Huckabee and Santorum will have company – Jim Gilmore. This will mark his first debate appearance since the very first GOP debate in Cleveland back in August. For many voters, this will be the first time setting eyes on him. Imagine this if you will. Gilmore turns in such an amazing debate performance his poll numbers jump sufficiently to finish a strong second in Iowa, gets invited to the main stage of the next GOP debate in New Hampshire, knocks Trump over with a feather and begins to get Bernie Sanders like crowds to his campaign events culminiating in him moving into the White House.

This, of course, is about as likely as me being named the Opening Day starting pitcher for the Red Sox. Nevertheless, it will be good to see Gilmore back in the spotlight even if only briefly. He’s not flashy, but has sound policy knowledge especially where it concerns national security and defense. Gilmore is a voice of sobriety. Unfortunately, sobriety appears to have no place in this season.