You know they are. This is a valid technique, especially if one is new to the public eye but if team Trump thinks his 'tics' are not on display, and have been for over two decades, they are as delusional as their candidate.

...can't for the life of me imagine Trump seriously 'studying' anything, tho.

that might surface at some point. It's all part of the process. Sadly, substantive issues don't matter all that much in a debate. It's all about style, aggression vs composure, directing your opponent into tricky territory, and of course puling out the zingers ("there you go again", or "please proceed, governor&quot .

The media will eat it up and the next day the clips will be of Trump "performing" not of Hillary answering the questions.

Fasten your seat belts next week could be a ruff ride, we may not get the moment we want Monday night. Trump has been coached not to "lose it" all he has to do is stand and not be an Ass hole for 90 minutes.

...and he's not intelligent enough to keep to a script for long.

I think that expectation of a Trump 'performance' victory will be his undoing. He's a terrible actor.

The media has treated Trump all year you will see that they always play him "up" while putting Hillary "down" I am afraid the story on Tuesday will be how Trump out preformed while Hillary did not Knock him out, the media will give it to Trump and we will be hearing all week has the race has been "reset" the media wants it close to keep up their ratings, facts will not matter.

...hard to ignore what he's said about them in this campaign and the way he's barred and excluded many of them.

I don't think they need to prop him up to get ratings at this point. I think they'd get more mileage with the emerging scandals surrounding the crooked cheeto.

blurts out whatever comes to his minuscule mind. He's a crude, brash, rude/coarse and vulgar real estate hawker. He lacks any mental sophistication, especially when it comes to psychological manipulations. Trumps mind says F you when he's insulted/frustrated/challenged.

...I'd have to think the Clinton camp has a few tricks up their sleeve to bait him into exploding, like they've done throughout the campaign.

I think Hillary's best tactic is to relax and be her self and keep her answers short, simple and to the point. With luck Trump will bring himself down if not Hillary still comes off looking strong but if she tries to bait him and Trump does not take the bait Hillary will be said to have failed.

...I won't give him credit for knowing as much as which orifice to breathe out of.

Feeding him all their requirements.