And then there were five: Yup, another GOP Debate
Posted By RichC on February 26, 2016
The Republicans are going through a slugfest this year in part due to having such a large field of candidates to whittle down. Just a few months ago, the debates had 16 GOP hopefully, and yet according to pundits, five is still three too many (probably true if you are supporting any other candidate but the outsider Donald Trump). It has been an interesting political spectacle.
Thursday night’s CBS debate was in Texas and the focus on foreign policy. The delegate leader to this point is Donald Trump followed by Sen Ted Cruz and Sen Marco Rubio well behind. Bringing up the bottom with single digit percentage support are both Dr. Ben Carson and Gov John Kasich. Part of the winning strategy to this point is being a boisterous and braggadocious outsider … and Trump acts the part to a tee. Some think he knows exactly what he is doing.
Feb 25, 2016 CNN #GOPDebate:
Started at 8:30 – Both Rubio and Cruz tag teamed to try and bring down Republican front-runner Donald Trump as they hammered him on lack of substance (which is Trump’s Achilles heel). Illegal immigration was at the top of the agenda as the CNN, Telemundo and conservative talk show host took turns at asking questions. Rubio accused Trump of hiring illegal immigrants from Poland, saying “you’re only person on this stage that has ever been fined for hiring people to work on your projects illegally.” Trump replied, “I’ve hired tens of thousands of people over at my job. You’ve hired nobody. You’ve had nothing but problems with your credit cards, et cetera. So don’t tell me about that” he fumed at Marco Rubio. Then Rubio jabbed again, “He hired workers from Poland. And he had to pay a million dollars or so in a judgment.”
Ohio Gov. John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson stayed largely on the sidelines while Rubio and Cruz traded blows. They both finally had a chance to answer a couple question. Carson squeezed 3 anwsers into on question and had the best line of the night with “can someone please attack me?” Kasich brought the most content and experience to the debate. He may have convinced those who don’t know him that he is qualified … probably too little too late?
Ted Cruz had a solid performance and probably held his own and kept his supportor. Good news for Trump as the non-Trump votes will continue to be split between the other candidates. Some are now talking that it is possible the Republicans will have a contested or brokereed convention.
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