Rand Paul is really excited that Donald Trump won't be at the next debate

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul says the next Republican presidential debate is going to be the best yet — and not just because he'll be returning to the main stage after low polling numbers barred him from it at the last debate. The true silver lining of Thursday's debate, Paul says, is the fact that Donald Trump won't be there.

Trump announced Tuesday that he will not be attending the Fox News debate because he believes Fox News anchor and moderator Megyn Kelly is "biased." "It's sort of a double-win for me: Not only am I on the main stage, but we don't have to put up with a lot of empty blather and boastfulness and calling people names," Paul said Wednesday on Fox News' Happening Now. He noted that since all the other candidates will have some more time to talk, "there is a chance to really have a substantive debate on the issues."

That, he says, will not only be better for him — it will be better for America, too. "It's all the better for the country, really, as far as I'm concerned," Paul said of Trump's absence, adding that he's "looking forward to it."

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Other Republican candidates have echoed Paul's sentiments, with Chris Christie saying he's "glad" Trump is skipping and Marco Rubio slamming Trump for his "theatrics."