This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/jan/28/fox-news-republican-debate-des-moines-iowa-donald-trump-megyn-kelly-live

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Republican debate live: candidates set to spar as Trump tries to steal the show Republican debate live: candidates spar as Trump tries to steal the show
(35 minutes later)
2.09am GMT 2.44am GMT
02:09 02:44
Scott Bixby
Donald Trump, master of apophasis, declares that he won’t bring up any polls tonight before bringing up his standing in the polls:
“We’ve had amazing polls in Iowa, we’ve had amazing polls no matter where we’ve been,” Trump says. “We’re leading in Iowa and every single state.”
2.43am GMT
02:43
Tom McCarthyTom McCarthy
Bush is asked about his status as an establishment figure, and whether the division of the establishment has enabled the rise of outsiders. Bush is asked whether he would police charity organizations that say they’re helping veterans?
“We’re just starting. The first vote hasn’t been cast yet. Let’s let the process play out,” Bush says. Bush says the first duty is to fix the department of veteran’s affairs. He says employees get bonuses while people don’t get care.
Then, unprompted: “I kind of miss Donald Trump. He was such a teddy bear to me. ... Everyone else was in the witness protection program when I went after him.” Bush calls for a choice card for veterans so they don’t have to travel for care. “Give veterans choices and you’ll get a much better result.” He calls for more private programs supporting vets.
Bush is branding himself as the candidate who had the guts to take on Trump. Another strong answer from Bush. He’s applauded.
2.07am GMT 2.42am GMT
02:07 02:42
Scott Bixby
Fox News has issued a statement about the series of phone calls that took place between Donald Trump and Fox News chief Roger Ailes:
#Break: Statement from Fox News about Trump-Ailes conversations pic.twitter.com/6iTXQTc5W6
2.41am GMT
02:41
Tom McCarthyTom McCarthy
Rubio gets the ball. He is asked about unifying the Republican party. Carson says that the United States should accept anyone who embraces American values and laws. He’s applauded. He’s improved on the stage over the course of these seven debates.
The election’s not about Trump! Rubio says, bringing up Trump himself. Kasich is asked about potential “backdoors” in encryption programs that could backfire by making the technology vulnerable to hackers.
“He’s an entertaining guy, he’s the greatest show on Earth.” Kasich says it’s best not to talk about some of these things. “It’ll be solved,” Kasich says.
But the election is about replacing Barack Obama, a “disaster”, Rubio says. It’s public record, Kelly says.
Updated “It’s best not to talk about it,” Kasich says. Meaning: the public should not be part of the decision on how to balance security and privacy in technologies everybody uses.
at 2.08am GMT 2.40am GMT
2.06am GMT 02:40
02:06 Scott Bixby
Mona Chalabi Mike Huckabee replaces Santorum at the lectern and throws caution to the wind. “I figure you’re gonna get the photo anyway, I might as well stand here,” he says.
I miss clap-o-meters “Without you, there is no government,” he says of American military veterans, to another vigorous “U-S-A” chant.
2.06am GMT “You see, in my mind here, I heard you saying ‘Go, Huck, go!’” he responds.
02:06 Despite their possible divides in politics, Huckabee says, he couldn’t avoid making an appearance at the event, because “bigger than even the election, is the fact that we wouldn’t have free elections in this country without people who stood between bullets bombs.”
2.40am GMT
02:40
Jeb Lund
Ted Cruz’s plan to win this debate is evidently to turn into a plungingly less humorous version of Donald Trump with at least twice the peevishness. He has (surprise!) narcissistically decided that all questions are being asked with the aim of giving other candidates ammunition to “go after” Ted Cruz, so he is going to litigate the conduct of the debate with the moderators.
He has also decided to simultaneously be the bulldog going after the moderators, while embracing the familiar conservative cry of being constantly victimized by questions, issues, press, other conservatives. He’s getting hammered on policy, not on being himself, and trying to play the victim on what is supposed to be his specialty: being a know-it-all. You made your bed, sir.
2.38am GMT
02:38
Tom McCarthyTom McCarthy
Cruz is asked about the fight that’s broken out between him and Trump. Christie is asked about profiling and law enforcement to stop terror attacks. Christie says common sense obviates the need for profiling.
“If Donald engages in insults or anybody else, I do not intend to reciprocate ... To every Donald Trump voter or potential voter, I hope to earn your support,” he says. “Use common sense and let law enforcement make those decisions. That can be done without profiling people. That’s just common sense,” Christie says, somewhat circularly.
Cruz says “policies and vision and record should be the meat of politics,” not personal insults. He says that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have not supported law enforcement but he would.
Updated 2.37am GMT
at 2.07am GMT 02:37
2.05am GMT 3 amigos... Santorum and Huckabee join Trump onstage #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/NmozxwGD3g
02:05 2.36am GMT
Cruz slams Trump 02:36
Tom McCarthy
First question is to Cruz, and about Trump: what does his absence say to Iowa voters?
Cruz starts out by thanking Iowans. “If I’m elected president, keep an eye on the tarmac, because I’ll be back.”
I’m a maniac, and everyone on this stage is stupid, fat and ugly. And Ben, you’re a terrible surgeon. And now that we’ve got the Donald Trump portion out of the way, I want to thank everyone on this stage for showing the respect to show up and make their cases to the people of Iowa.
Updated
at 2.07am GMT
2.03am GMT
02:03
And here are all the top-tier Republicans... except one #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/FoaNTAuJAz
2.03am GMT
02:03
The crowd cheerfully claps for the participants. Rand Paul is applauded wildly – he apparently brought his fan base. Baier says the crowd is very excited to be here. He gets claps and whoops.
2.01am GMT
02:01
Republican debate begins
Here we are, back inside the Iowa Events Center. The moderators are Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace. We are about to meet the candidates. Seven onstage. No empty lectern awaiting Trump.
1.59am GMT
01:59
Scott BixbyScott Bixby
Attendees of Donald Trump’s anti-debate event are now listening to “The Playlist,” the well-documented music set list that plays before every one of Trump’s campaign events. Comprised primarily of classic rock tunes with a smattering of Adele, Puccini arias and Broadway standards from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS, the set typically plays on loop as crowds await an appearance by Trump. Donald Trump introduces former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum - winners of the 2008 and 2012 Iowa caucuses, respectively.
Here at the Guardian’s campaign liveblog - where the campaign trail comes alive! - we bring you the chance to experience the set list from the comfort of your homes. Santorum takes a turn at the lectern - his second of the night, after his undercard debate performance on Fox News - and makes an effort to avoid an awkward photo opportunity:
A special thanks from seven-time Tony winner Lloyd Webber. Santorum: I want to stand a little bit over here so I’m not photographed with the Trump sign
1.58am GMT “I’m supporting another candidate for president,” Santorum jokes, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t work together when it comes to helping our veterans, and that’s what Mike and I are doing here tonight.”
01:58 2.36am GMT
02:36
Tom McCarthyTom McCarthy
You asked, we answered. Paul nails Rubio on immigration. “It’s a huge mistake to close down mosques. But if you want to keep the country safe, it begins with border security,” he says.
Google trends is tracking the top questions about Jeb Bush posed to Google in advance of tonight’s main event debate, which is scheduled to start in about a half hour. Paul accuses Rubio him of having made a “deal with Chuck Schumer” not to accept any conservative amendments to Rubio’s Gang of 8 immigration reform bill.
See the top trending questions on @JebBush before the #GOPDebate https://t.co/gmZioSFk5K pic.twitter.com/FZsXfKCWAH Rubio says that any immigrant to the United States under his presidency will be fully vetted.
Let’s give these a crack. 2.34am GMT
1. 62. He turns 63 on 11 February, in a couple weeks, two days after New Hampshire. 02:34
2. Yes. Opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at stake. Mona Chalabi
3. Well, do you mean George W. Bush, or George HW Bush? To state the incredibly obvious, if you’re watching the debate right now, you’re not alone. What’s interesting though is that the percentage of people saying they’ve watched a debate is higher now than it was in December 2007, according to a national survey from Pew Research Center. When Pew asked in December 2015, 69% of respondents said they’d watched at least one of the televised debates - in December 2007, that figure was just 43%.
4. LOL The chart below from Pew shows how that varies by age group.
5. Has Jeb! really Googled this enough times for it to trend? What’s more, despite the fact that these debates have discussed little in the way of policy, more Americans are describing them as “interesting” compared to January 2012 or October 2007. That’s true whether the respondents were Republican, Democrat or Independent.
Updated 2.32am GMT
at 1.59am GMT 02:32
1.54am GMT Richard Wolffe
01:54 Ted Cruz does some more masterful deflection – with the help of Ronald Reagan, points out Richard Wolffe.
This is Olympic-quality question-dodging by Ted Cruz. Asked by Chris Wallace about his votes against defense budgets, Cruz launches into an extended diatribe against Barack Obama’s defense budgets. Even when asked a follow-up - in response to a few barbed comments by Marco Rubio - Cruz talks not about his own position, but about his idol: Ronald Reagan.
Cruz likes to position himself as the second coming of Reagan, which is a lot better than discussing his own budget votes. Oh yes: and they all want to annihilate, eviscerate and exterminate Isis. In case you were confused on that point.
2.32am GMT
02:32
Adam Gabbatt
While Fox News is streaming the GOP debate, its news channel competitors are gleefully mopping up ratings by showing Donald Trump’s rally live.
Even before Trump’s event began, CNN was running a “breaking news” chyron: “Waiting Trump event.”
Once Trump started, they gave him their full attention. So far they have stuck with him for his entire speech.
It was the same with MSNBC. They’ve interrupted the Rachel Maddow show to go live to Trumptown. They’re still there.
2.31am GMT
02:31
Tom McCarthyTom McCarthy
Tonight’s debate is in the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Here are the participants in tonight’s main event debate, in alphabetical order. Cruz tries to cut in. Wallace shuts him down. “I know you like to argue about the rules but we’re going to conduct the debate,” Wallace says.
Who: The main event features: Cruz is booed.
Updated Bush gets the question: “Given the fact that your brother got us into two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have still not ended, what have you learned from his mistakes, sir?”
at 1.55am GMT The question is booed.
1.52am GMT Bush presents himself as a foreign policy realist. “It is from the lessons of history that we do this... the caliphate of Isis has to be destroyed,” he says. He points out that he detailed his plan last summer.
01:52 An applause line: “Get the lawyers off the backs of the military, once and for all.”
Main event debate to begin In all a well-received answer from Bush on foreign policy. He’s peppy this evening.
Cruz is really getting booed. He gets the chance to reply, and says that the moderators are asking questions encouraging the candidates to attack one another.
Cruz saves himself, a bit, with a joke: “If you guys ask one more mean question, I may have to leave the stage.”
2.30am GMT
02:30
Scott Bixby
Donald Trump introduces Phil Ruffin, a casino billionaire, and his wife, who announces that he is donating $1m “to your charity.”
“He says, ‘There’s ten or twenty more of them if you want it or you need it,’” Trump says of Ruffin, before declaring that he turned down the billionaire’s money out of his conviction that politicians shouldn’t be bought.
“I don’t feel good about turning down money because my whole life I’ve been greedy greedy greedy,” Trump says, “but I’m gonna be greedy for the United States!”
The crowd erupts into a short-lived “U-S-A” chant.
2.27am GMT
02:27
Richard Wolffe
Without Trump on the debate stage, some candidates look a lot more relaxed, notes Richard Wolffe
John Kasich purses his lips several times in a weird kind of pout as Chris Wallace describes him as an inside-outside candidate. It’s almost like he loves the question so much that he wants to kiss his questioner.
Maybe it’s just the most visible sign of the different mood that hangs over the Trumpless stage. Every candidate seems more confident and relaxed without an unpredictable real estate developer throwing firebombs from center stage. Who knew?
2.27am GMT
02:27
Christie: Clinton 'not qualified'
Tom McCarthyTom McCarthy
For readers playing through and for those of you just joining us – welcome! to our live-wire coverage of the seventh Republican presidential debate, plus Donald Trump’s parallel competing event. Welcome back!
The non-Trump Republicans are scrambling for position in second place as the Iowa caucuses loom, just four days out now. Tonight watch for aggressive closing arguments from Texas senator Ted Cruz, who is clinging closest to Trump in the Hawkeye state and Florida senator Marco Rubio, who’s in third, according to polling averages. Christie has compared Cruz and Rubio to Obama, who took office as an inexperienced senator.
But tonight’s the night for the candidates to leave nothing on the table. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush is facing what has at times appeared to be the sunset of his candidacy. New Jersey governor Chris Christie will continue to make a hard sell to New Hampshire voters. And Ohio governor John Kasich has shown some life in the Granite state. Christie says that what the country should really be worried about is Hillary Clinton.
Meanwhile, there’s Trump, who’s tweaking Fox News by boycotting their spectacle and mounting his own. It’s hard to talk of expectations where Trump is concerned. What we can expect is a unique spectacle in American politics, an election front-runner abandoning the field and striking off alone. Christie’s favorite tack: taking it to Clinton. “She put American secrets at risk for her convenience... Let me tell you who’s not qualified to be president of the United States, Chris. Hillary Rodham Clinton.”
Thanks for joining us! 2.25am GMT
02:25
Scott Bixby
#FactCheck:
Trump says he has raised almost $6 million. His website says he has raised $430,000 pic.twitter.com/oSmtEpnoiO
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.52am GMT at 2.26am GMT
1.50am GMT 2.24am GMT
01:50 02:24
Sabrina Siddiqui Tom McCarthy
Donald Trump may not be participating in tonight’s debate, but the Republican frontrunner remains the talk of the town as candidates prepare to take the stage in Des Moines. First commercial break! Who’s winning? Cruz is certainly on his feet. Rubio talking fast as usual. Kasich projecting confidence. Bush claiming to be the fighter. Paul with a nice condemnation of dragnet surveillance. Carson sharper. Christie looking for an in.
Trump’s ongoing battle with Fox News remains at the forefront of media coverage, with the real estate mogul announcing just now on CNN that the network had apologized to him. He will nonetheless hold on to his pledge to skip the debate, a move that could steer significant attention away from Trump’s opponents, who are looking to distinguish themselves in his absence. They’re on point tonight, as a group.
All eyes are particularly on Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, the two first-term senators who are polling behind Trump both nationally and in the early states. Cruz is hoping to seal the deal with undecided caucus-goers in Iowa, where he has invested heavily for his grassroots campaign. 2.24am GMT
Rubio goes into this debate having been on the receiving end of close to $25m in attack ads by his opponents - more than any other candidate in the race - and he will likely have the largest target on his back. Other so-called establishment candidates believe they must knock the Florida senator out to gain traction as a viable alternative to Trump and Cruz. 02:24
Rand Paul will also return to the stage, having been forced out of the previous debate due to low polling.
Updated
at 1.52am GMT
1.50am GMT
01:50
Scott BixbyScott Bixby
In a just-aired interview with CNN, Donald Trump told the cable news network that an unnamed figure at Fox News “apologized” to the billionaire frontrunner for a “wise-guy” press release that the network released earlier this week. Donald Trump’s rally has already been interrupted by protestors shouting “We love our vets, Trump loves war!”, who are almost immediately drowned out by chants of “Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump! Trump!”
“I was treated very unfairly by Fox. Since then they’ve been excellent, they’ve been very nice, but it’s too late,” Trump told CNN’s Brianna Keilar in an interview aboard his private plane. “It really is too crazy, right?” Trump mugs at the audience. “I love protests - I love protests at my rallies.”
“I wanted to fight for myself just like I’ll fight for the country,” Trump said. “You have to stick up for yourself, you have to fight for yourself and you have to fight for your country.” Updated
In the interview, Trump declared that despite the alleged apology, he would continue with his plans to host a counter-programmed benefit/fundraiser/rally/anti-debate three miles from the debate hall. at 2.33am GMT
1.43am GMT 2.23am GMT
01:43 02:23
Scott Bixby
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, fresh off of his (potentially final) Republican presidential primary debate performance, has officially made it to Donald Trump’s campaign rally-slash-military fundraiser at Drake University.
Huckabee waiting in the wings. #notthedebate pic.twitter.com/BIsINi0aqd
Huckabee, winners of the 2008 Iowa caucuses, told the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman that he would attend the event after participating in tonight’s undercard debate on Fox News purely to support US veterans. Huckabee further clarified that his attendance is “not an endorsement of Trump’s candidacy,” telling CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that he’s “still running for president.”
Or, at least, until the results of Monday’s caucuses come in.
1.41am GMT
01:41
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush keeps his eyes on the opposition – not meaning Trump:
The best poster to see before tonight’s #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/BhxFZVRJwG
1.40am GMT
01:40
Mona ChalabiMona Chalabi
While we’re warming up for the main show, the O’Reilly Factor on Fox News is talking about the importance of name recognition. But face recognition can matter too for these debates and a poll by Vox and Morning Consult suggests that Trump and Clinton are well ahead of their peers on that measure. In addition to its enormous financial power, Google is getting opportunities to shape the political debate in ways that are slightly unsettling.
Of the 2,028 registered voters they polled, 97% correctly identified Hillary Clinton when shown a picture of her face and 96% identified Trump. A pie chart just popped up on the screen showing what Americans were searching for in Google. Apparently it was overwhelmingly terrorism.
Bernie Sanders only managed 69%. His fellow Democrat Martin O’Malley was correctly identified by 30% and Republican John Kasich by a measly 34%. Let’s set aside the fact that there is no way in hell that over 80% of all Google searches were for the word terrorism (and let’s also set aside that pie charts are terrible) the issue is a lack of transparency.
1.37am GMT Google Trends data does not the actual volume of search traffic, just a murky index of changing popularity over time. Every time you see numbers attached to Google tonight, I’d read them with plenty of skepticism.
01:37 2.23am GMT
Lucia Graves 02:23
Carly Fiorina said some pretty offensive things about Hillary Clinton that were sexist and disappointing – especially coming from another woman, writes Lucia Graves. Scott Bixby
Fiorina was asked about her earlier comment: “Unlike the other woman candidate in this race, I actually love spending time with my husband.” Donald Trump isn’t sure whether or not this special event will end up hurting him in the polls - but he doesn’t care.
It’s disappointing when people make sexist attacks on Hillary Clinton. It’s especially disappointing when the person making those attacks is the only other woman running for president. Will I get more votes? Will I get less votes? Nobody knows. Who the hell knows?”
Fiorina is doing text book stuff: attacking Clinton’s personal choice to stick by her husband in the face of his infidelities and, basically, accusing her of being ambitious. Trump tells the crowd that his campaign - or the veterans, he’s not really clear - has raised more than $5m in the past two days because of his feud with Fox News.
“Hillary Clinton has been climbing the ladder to try to get power, and here now she is trying for the White House, she is probably more qualified for the big house,” Fiorina said on Fox News. “She’s escaped prosecution more times than El Chapo ... ” “Really, it was closer to $6m,” he boasts.
Skipping over the part where she compares Clinton to a recently recaptured Mexican drug lord, let’s take a closer look at why in 2015 we think it’s OK to attack the only woman who has had a serious shot at the presidency for being ambitious.
Every single person running for president is ambitious; it comes with the territory ... But you won’t hear any one accusing Donald Trump of “climbing the ladder”. No, that’s an attack specifically reserved for women.
And Fiorina, who has repeatedly endured gendered attacks herself – think of the time Trump made fun of her face – should know better. I’m not holding her to a higher standard. Just to her own.
UpdatedUpdated
at 1.38am GMT at 2.26am GMT
1.31am GMT 2.22am GMT
01:31 02:22
Tom McCarthyTom McCarthy
You asked, we answered. Rubio calls for rebuilding the American military. He says that Cruz has voted against funding it – the authorization act vote.
Google trends is tracking the top questions about Donald Trump posed to Google in advance of tonight’s main event debate, which is scheduled to start in about a half hour. Cruz says that Obama has allowed the military to deteriorate dangerously. “What Reagan did was he began with tax reform and regulatory reform,” unleashing economic growth and then rebuilding the military, Cruz explains.
Here are the top trending questions on @realDonaldTrump ahead of the #GOPDebate https://t.co/gmZioSFk5K pic.twitter.com/kWxExthLEK “I intend to do the exact same thing,” Cruz says. Sounds like it could take awhile.
Let’s give these a crack. 2.20am GMT
1. Because he could. 02:20
2. All of them except for Fox? Scott Bixby
3. Are you kidding? The networks broadcast his every phone call. When there’s not even a picture. “We had about 24 hours to put this together,” Donald Trump tells the crowd. “It was very, very quick. This is an honor; this is a really... honor.”
4. Let’s go to the tape: Trump tells his fans that his refusal to attend the Fox News debate comes from the same place as his desire to make America great again. “You have to stick up for your rights when you’re treated badly,” Trump says. “You have to stick up for your rights - you’ve got to do it.”
5. No. “We have to stick up for ourselves as people, and we have to stick up for our country when we’re being mistreated,” he continues.
Trump campaign just confirmed to me that he WILL NOT participate in Fox News debate tonight 2.20am GMT
1.24am GMT 02:20
01:24 Tom McCarthy
Ben Jacobs Cruz is asked about voting against the defense authorization act, and asked whether his record in the Senate does not contradict his warlike rhetoric.
Donald Trump is holding an event next week in a state that is not holding a primary anytime in the near future. The Republican frontrunner will be headed to Little Rock, Arkansas, on Wednesday. “I will apologize to nobody for the vigorousness with which I will fight terrorism,” he says.
The event, combined with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee’s appearance at Trump’s event tonight, will be sure to get tongues wagging about whether the Republican candidate might drop out and endorse Trump there. Huckabee has set his hopes on a strong performance in Iowa, but the former Iowa caucus winner has been lagging in the polls in the Hawkeye State. Talk of carpet-bombing Isis, he says, “is not tough talk”:
1.20am GMT It is not tough talk. It is a different fundamental military strategy than what we’ve seen from Barack Obama.
01:20 A bellicose moment from Cruz. It sounds like a big war he’s calling for.
Ben Jacobs Updated
The concert hall where the Trump event is taking place is an old-fashioned venue with red velvet curtains and wooden chairs and is filling up with a mix of Trump supporters and veterans. The headgear is a blend of Make America Great Again hats and caps representing various American Legion posts that veterans belong to and naval ships which they served on. at 2.25am GMT
Many attendees had come from out of state to be there like Doug Banker, a Marine veteran from Los Angeles. The long haired bearded veteran was sitting calmly wearing a white and gold Make America Great Again hat and checkered blue suit. He had flown out to Des Moines to support his fellow veterans at the event. 2.19am GMT
Banker, a conservative who wasn’t committed to supporting Trump, though the real estate mogul’s decision to boycott the debate could be a good thing. It showed Trump “was not going to give into Fox News and what not and to what everyone expects.” 02:19
Donald Trump live on stage! Pack up your #GOPDebate and go home pic.twitter.com/Lt2gMrhifx