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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
(about 1 hour 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. The race for the Republican presidential nomination entered a new and more aggressive phase as multiple candidates assailed Donald Trump’s fitness to lead the United States in a raucous debate on Wednesday night.
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. Rival candidates used the three-hour CNN debate to try to rein in the frontrunner and assert their own credentials for the White House, with the only female contender, Carly Fiorina, making a significant breakthrough.
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. With 11 people on stage the second debate, hosted at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, ranged widely over immigration, abortion, jobs, national security, Iran, same-sex rights, marijuana and climate change, but was dominated by attacks on Trump, who counter-attacked with gusto.
Afterwards all sides claimed victory, but there was widespread agreement that Fiorina, the former head of Hewlett-Packard, shone as an articulate, forceful outsider who hammered Trump as well as Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner whose name came up 32 times.
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. With the mood swinging from a rollicking family argument to uncomfortably personal confrontation to shared disdain for liberals, the debate showcased a race with an unusual number of candidates from unusually diverse backgrounds making creative plays for the Republican base.
In an early spat, Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, said he had stopped Trump from trying to establish casinos in his state. The face-offs were encouraged by CNN moderator Jake Tapper, who repeatedly asked candidates what they thought of negative things the others had earlier been quoted as saying about them.
Fiorina dismissed Trump as an “entertainer”. Rand Paul, the libertarian Kentucky senator, called him “sophomoric”. Scott Walker, the Wisconsin governor, said the billionaire turned politician was unqualified. “Mr Trump, we don’t need an apprentice in the White House. 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.” He also lambasted Paul and Fiorina, saying the latter ruined Hewlett-Packard.
Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, repeatedly tangled with the frontrunner, including a claim that he 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. It was one of many applause lines embraced by a crowd that noticeably warmed to others onstage as the night went on, especially Florida senator Marco Rubio and 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 when confronting 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 10 minutes or more of silence. 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.” With the sun setting over the rugged landscape, the candidates stood inside, some sweating under the TV lights, at glassy lecterns spanning an elevated stage erected in front of the airplane that served as Air Force One during Ronald Reagan’s presidency.
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 crowd occasionally broke through with enthusiastic applause despite CNN’s request for no cheering between speakers.
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.
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 his 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.” The former Florida governor hit back. “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.”
Spokespersons for the candidates proclaimed them victors in an adjacent media “spin room”.
Bush “shut down” Trump for much of the debate, said Trent Wisecap, a Bush spinner. “It put him back on his heels.”
Robert O’Brien, a spinner for Walker, put a positive interpretation on Walker being ignored for much of the debate. “Everyone else took a hit. Scott Walker did not take a hit. No one laid a glove on him.” He said the governor’s lack of a knockout blow did not matter. “I don’t think in early September a breakthrough moment is necessary.”
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 six 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. Related: Margaret Thatcher on the $10 bill? Jeb Bush floats idea at Republican debate
They clashed over immigration and 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 This one ended with a lightning round that featured Bush suggesting 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.