In what is being considered a crucial opportunity for former President Donald Trump to regain ground lost to Vice President Kamala Harris, his GOP allies are cautiously optimistic about his performance in the upcoming debate on September 10th. However, concerns loom over Trump's tendency for personal attacks, prompting some to pray for his discipline during the debate.

Republican strategist Tricia McLaughlin expressed her concerns to Politico, hoping that Trump would focus on policy rather than resorting to personal attacks. On the other hand, House Speaker Newt Gingrich theorized that Harris might try to "bait him" into engaging in such exchanges. Gingrich urged Trump to showcase his experience as a former president who has dealt with world leaders and to maintain a calm and steady demeanor throughout the debate.

However, if Trump finds himself cornered with personal attacks, all bets may be off, warned McLaughlin, who served as a senior adviser in Vivek Ramaswamy's presidential campaign. She pointed out that Trump might feel outnumbered due to the presence of the debate moderators, David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC. Trump's public disdain for ABC, referring to the network as "dishonest," and mocking star anchor George Stephanopoulos on his Truth Social platform, may heighten his skepticism towards the moderators.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized in a recent New York Times op-ed that substantive policy debates are crucial in the race for the White House, rather than exchanges filled with personal barbs. However, Trump has made it clear that he believes he is entitled to personal attacks and has no plans to change his strategy, particularly following backlash over his questioning of Harris' race in June.

An official close to Trump revealed that his debate preparation has been minimal, highlighting his preference for unscripted press conferences and speeches. The source dismissed the notion of Trump needing to "prepare for a debate" as absurd, citing Trump's ability to speak extemporaneously for over an hour.

With both hopes and concerns surrounding the upcoming debate, Trump faces the challenge of regaining lost ground against Harris in fundraising and the polls. Only time will tell if he can strike the right balance between policy-focused arguments and personal restraint, as the nation watches eagerly for the showdown between the two contenders.