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| Carly Fiorina dominates turbulent Republican debate as Trump fends off attacks | Carly Fiorina dominates turbulent Republican debate as Trump fends off attacks |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump spent hours Wednesday night fending off attacks from rival candidates on a California debate stage as moderators struggled to enforce order among a clamorous group of 11 White House hopefuls. | Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump spent hours Wednesday night fending off attacks from rival candidates on a California debate stage as moderators struggled to enforce order among a clamorous group of 11 White House hopefuls. |
| With the mood swinging from a rollicking family argument to an uncomfortably personal confrontation to shared disdain for Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, the debate showcased a race with a number of candidates from unusually diverse backgrounds making creative plays for the Republican base. | |
| Running a full but meandering three hours, the debate featured discussion of issues from the tax code to Iran to same-sex marriage, with enough time to spare for lively confrontations between the candidates. There was talk of climate change, marijuana and women’s rights – and a major breakthrough for the only female candidate on stage, Carly Fiorina. | Running a full but meandering three hours, the debate featured discussion of issues from the tax code to Iran to same-sex marriage, with enough time to spare for lively confrontations between the candidates. There was talk of climate change, marijuana and women’s rights – and a major breakthrough for the only female candidate on stage, Carly Fiorina. |
| Related: Trump counters misogyny allegations by saying Fiorina has a 'beautiful face' | Related: Trump counters misogyny allegations by saying Fiorina has a 'beautiful face' |
| The face-offs were encouraged by CNN moderator Jake Tapper, who repeatedly asked candidates what they thought of negative things others onstage had earlier been quoted as saying about them. | The face-offs were encouraged by CNN moderator Jake Tapper, who repeatedly asked candidates what they thought of negative things others onstage had earlier been quoted as saying about them. |
| In an early spat, Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, said he had stopped Trump from trying to establish casinos in his state. | In an early spat, Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, said he had stopped Trump from trying to establish casinos in his state. |
| Trump denied he had ever wanted a Florida casino. “I promise, if I wanted it, I would’ve gotten it,” he said, adding mockingly of Bush: “I like this. More energy tonight.” He has frequently described Bush as the “low-energy candidate”. | Trump denied he had ever wanted a Florida casino. “I promise, if I wanted it, I would’ve gotten it,” he said, adding mockingly of Bush: “I like this. More energy tonight.” He has frequently described Bush as the “low-energy candidate”. |
| It was one of many applause lines embraced by a crowd that noticeably warmed to others onstage as the night went on, including Florida senator Marco Rubio and the former Hewlett-Packard executive Fiorina. | |
| She drew strong applause for an impassioned attack on Planned Parenthood, the women’s healthcare provider, for what she said was profiteering on fetal tissue. Officials from the group had been videotaped discussing fees related to fetal tissue use in research. “This is about the character of our nation,” Fiorina said. | She drew strong applause for an impassioned attack on Planned Parenthood, the women’s healthcare provider, for what she said was profiteering on fetal tissue. Officials from the group had been videotaped discussing fees related to fetal tissue use in research. “This is about the character of our nation,” Fiorina said. |
| She won equal applause in a confrontation with the frontrunner, Trump, who had been quoted as criticizing Fiorina’s face. He later said he had been criticizing her “persona”. | She won equal applause in a confrontation with the frontrunner, Trump, who had been quoted as criticizing Fiorina’s face. He later said he had been criticizing her “persona”. |
| “I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr Trump said,” Fiorina said. | “I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr Trump said,” Fiorina said. |
| Trump made an attempt at chivalry. “I think she’s got a beautiful face, and I think she’s a beautiful woman,” he said. | Trump made an attempt at chivalry. “I think she’s got a beautiful face, and I think she’s a beautiful woman,” he said. |
| Fiorina betrayed no amusement at the remark. | Fiorina betrayed no amusement at the remark. |
| Later, as Trump and Fiorina argued over who had made more business missteps, Christie jumped in to object to the personal combat. | Later, as Trump and Fiorina argued over who had made more business missteps, Christie jumped in to object to the personal combat. |
| “You’re both successful people – congratulations,” Christie said, but time would be better spent talking about the middle class. “Let’s start talking about those issues tonight, and stop this childish back-and-forth between the two of you.” | “You’re both successful people – congratulations,” Christie said, but time would be better spent talking about the middle class. “Let’s start talking about those issues tonight, and stop this childish back-and-forth between the two of you.” |
| The exchanges were characteristic of a night in which candidates who did not speak up often were consigned to ten minutes or more of silence. Dr Ben Carson, who has been competing almost neck-and-neck with Trump in some polls, spoke relatively little in the first half of the event. | The exchanges were characteristic of a night in which candidates who did not speak up often were consigned to ten minutes or more of silence. Dr Ben Carson, who has been competing almost neck-and-neck with Trump in some polls, spoke relatively little in the first half of the event. |
| Later he spoke up to knock down an insinuation by Trump that there was a correlation between vaccination and autism cases. | Later he spoke up to knock down an insinuation by Trump that there was a correlation between vaccination and autism cases. |
| “He’s an OK doctor,” Carson joked. “But the fact of the matter is, we have extremely well-documented evidence that there’s no autism associated with vaccinations.” | “He’s an OK doctor,” Carson joked. “But the fact of the matter is, we have extremely well-documented evidence that there’s no autism associated with vaccinations.” |
| Some of the attacks on Trump were sharper. Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor, said Trump was unqualified for the presidency. “Mr Trump, we don’t need an apprentice in the White House,” Walker said. “We have one now.” | Some of the attacks on Trump were sharper. Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor, said Trump was unqualified for the presidency. “Mr Trump, we don’t need an apprentice in the White House,” Walker said. “We have one now.” |
| Trump characteristically gave as good as he got. “In Wisconsin you’re losing $2.2bn right now,” he told Walker. “I would do so much better than that.” | Trump characteristically gave as good as he got. “In Wisconsin you’re losing $2.2bn right now,” he told Walker. “I would do so much better than that.” |
| The 11 candidates stood shoulder-to-shoulder at glassy lecterns spanning an elevated stage erected in front of the airplane that served as Air Force One for Ronald Reagan during his presidency. | The 11 candidates stood shoulder-to-shoulder at glassy lecterns spanning an elevated stage erected in front of the airplane that served as Air Force One for Ronald Reagan during his presidency. |
| The crowd occasionally broke through with enthusiastic applause, although the audience largely abided by CNN’s request for no cheering between speakers. | The crowd occasionally broke through with enthusiastic applause, although the audience largely abided by CNN’s request for no cheering between speakers. |
| One perhaps unexpected recipient of applause was former president George W Bush, who was attacked by Trump as having performed poorly enough to have ushered in a Democratic president. | One perhaps unexpected recipient of applause was former president George W Bush, who was attacked by Trump as having performed poorly enough to have ushered in a Democratic president. |
| “Your brother’s administration gave us Barack Obama,” Trump told Bush. “The last three months were so bad, not even Abraham Lincoln could get elected.” | “Your brother’s administration gave us Barack Obama,” Trump told Bush. “The last three months were so bad, not even Abraham Lincoln could get elected.” |
| Bush hit back on behalf of his brother. “There’s one thing I remember,” Bush said, to a crescendo of clapping. “He kept us safe. He sent a clear signal. He would keep us safe.” | Bush hit back on behalf of his brother. “There’s one thing I remember,” Bush said, to a crescendo of clapping. “He kept us safe. He sent a clear signal. He would keep us safe.” |
| Before the debate the race had tightened significantly, according to national polling. | Before the debate the race had tightened significantly, according to national polling. |
| Trump’s double-digit lead ahead of the Republican field has disappeared in at least two recent polls. A CBS News/New York Times poll published Tuesday showed Trump ahead of Carson nationally by only four points, 27%-23%, while a Monmouth University poll late last month showed the two candidates tied in Iowa. | Trump’s double-digit lead ahead of the Republican field has disappeared in at least two recent polls. A CBS News/New York Times poll published Tuesday showed Trump ahead of Carson nationally by only four points, 27%-23%, while a Monmouth University poll late last month showed the two candidates tied in Iowa. |
| In national polling averages, Trump still held a 12-point advantage, but he was losing ground to Carson, who has jumped from about 6 points on average up to 18 points in the last month. | In national polling averages, Trump still held a 12-point advantage, but he was losing ground to Carson, who has jumped from about 6 points on average up to 18 points in the last month. |
| The debate was preceded by a warm-up event featuring four candidates trailing in the polls: former governor George Pataki, former senator Rick Santorum, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, and South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham. | The debate was preceded by a warm-up event featuring four candidates trailing in the polls: former governor George Pataki, former senator Rick Santorum, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, and South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham. |
| With 90 minutes allotted to the four candidates, the contestants were able to hold longer conversations on issue such as birthright citizenship – the right of anyone born in the United Staes to become a citizen, something that has become a controversial issue in the Republican race. Graham invoked the former president pro tempore of the senate from his home state of South Carolina in support of his argument for changing the policy of granting citizenship at birth. | With 90 minutes allotted to the four candidates, the contestants were able to hold longer conversations on issue such as birthright citizenship – the right of anyone born in the United Staes to become a citizen, something that has become a controversial issue in the Republican race. Graham invoked the former president pro tempore of the senate from his home state of South Carolina in support of his argument for changing the policy of granting citizenship at birth. |
| “Strom Thurmond had four kids after 67 years old,” Graham said. “If you’re not willing to do that, we better come up with a new legal immigration system.” | “Strom Thurmond had four kids after 67 years old,” Graham said. “If you’re not willing to do that, we better come up with a new legal immigration system.” |
| The first GOP debate, broadcast by Fox News, attracted 24 million viewers, a record for non-sports cable broadcasting. | The first GOP debate, broadcast by Fox News, attracted 24 million viewers, a record for non-sports cable broadcasting. |
| Related: Margaret Thatcher on the $10 bill? Jeb Bush floats idea at Republican debate | Related: Margaret Thatcher on the $10 bill? Jeb Bush floats idea at Republican debate |
| This one ended with a lightning round that featured Bush suggesting, strangely, that Margaret Thatcher should be on the $10 bill. | This one ended with a lightning round that featured Bush suggesting, strangely, that Margaret Thatcher should be on the $10 bill. |
| The next Republican debate is scheduled for 28 October in Boulder, Colorado. The Democrats are to hold a debate on 13 October in Las Vegas, Nevada. | The next Republican debate is scheduled for 28 October in Boulder, Colorado. The Democrats are to hold a debate on 13 October in Las Vegas, Nevada. |