The two 2024 Republican presidential candidates who will be center stage during the primary's first debate are each grappling with criticism regarding their authenticity.

But regardless of Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) struggles to grow his support among Republican voters and charges that entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is "fake," the pair is polling second and third, respectively, behind the race's front-runner, former President Donald Trump, who will not be debating Wednesday in Milwaukee.

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DeSantis and Ramaswamy are in many ways the most Trump-like candidates. DeSantis, despite his popularity in Florida, has missed opportunities to connect with people in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, preferring instead to demonstrate his pugilism with Democrats and members of the media while displaying his softer side with appearances alongside his wife, Casey, and their three children. Simultaneously, Ramaswamy has been scrutinized for his inconsistency, from his voting record to his suggestion the federal government was involved in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The public, particularly in first-in-the-nation states, can differentiate a "real deal," authentic presidential candidate from a "faker," according to Ronald Reagan biographer Craig Shirley.

"Trump is controversial, yes, but he is the real deal, which is why he is leading in all the polls," the Republican strategist told the Washington Examiner. "Too early to say right now about the field of GOP candidates, but all lack a signature issue. All lack a reason to vote for them, and silly campaign tactics are not the answer."

Darrell West, former Brookings Institution vice president and governance studies director, agreed one of Trump's strengths is his authenticity, contending the onetime president "says what is on his mind," irrespective of the controversy his remarks may cause.

"Authenticity is important during a time of great cynicism because it is hard for voters to know which candidate will represent their values," the Divided Politics, Divided Nation author said. "They look for people who are direct and straightforward so they can have confidence that leader will defend their interests. Candidates who come across as fake are hard to trust, and it is difficult for them to gain much public support."

But New Hampshire University political science professor Dante Scala downplayed the importance of reporter discomfort assessments, comparing them to "figure skating judges assigning numbers for 'artistic impression.'"

"It’s the ultimate intangible quality for politicians," The Four Faces of the Republican Party author said. "The problem for candidates who get tagged with this label, like DeSantis, is that it’s awfully difficult to detach it. Everything the 'inauthentic' candidate does and says is scrutinized for evidence of inauthenticity. And guess what? When you’re sure about your conclusions, it’s easy to find evidence that matches your conclusions."

Competing campaigns and outside groups have also taken advantage of DeSantis's perceived edginess with voters, with an operative organizing for a plane to fly over the Iowa State Fair this month with a banner that read, "Be Likeable, Ron!" Ramaswamy has similarly described DeSantis as "Robot Ron" in response to the governor's super PAC, Never Back Down, recommending he “take a sledgehammer to Vivek Ramaswamy: ‘Fake Vivek’ Or ‘Vivek the Fake.’”

For Suffolk University Political Research Center Director David Paleologos, DeSantis is continuing to adjust to national politics after being the "big dog" in Florida.

"His authenticity, I think, really helped him become a landslide winner in Florida. He could be himself. Then he shifts to president. He's not the big dog anymore," the pollster said. "And then he has three sets of political advisers taking him on a merry-go-round of polling."

"I don't think he's navigated the new challenge. It's different. It's like a Division II championship team suddenly going into a Division I tournament, and you have to totally change your everything. You have to change your strategy," he added. "By no folly of his own, he's in an authenticity death spiral."

Eight candidates qualified for the first debate, moderated by Fox News's Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum in the general election battleground state of Wisconsin: DeSantis, Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND).

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"I’m going to be making the case, and this is really a great opportunity because I don’t think very many people over the summer have been following that closely," DeSantis told Fox News this week. "This is going to be the first time that candidates are going to be able to speak unfiltered to a large number of Americans."

Nationally, Trump averages 56% support, DeSantis 15%, Ramaswamy 7%, Pence 4%, Haley, Christie, and Scott 3%, in addition to Hutchinson and Burgum's 1%.