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| Sanders campaigns in New Hampshire as Clinton flies to Flint – campaign live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.42pm GMT | |
| 18:42 | |
| Guardian political reporter Sabrina Siddiqui has followed Florida senator Marco Rubio from Londonderry to Bedford, New Hampshire. | |
| Among other topics, Rubio touches on one close to his heart and on everyone’s mind this weekend: the Super Bowl. | |
| Rubio on Super Bowl: "I can't tell you who's not playing, the Miami Dolphins. That's been true now for 30 some years." | |
| Rubio to Bedford crowd: “Tom Brady’s 38 years old. Why is he still playing? There should be mandatory retirement ages.” | |
| A 9 year old asks Rubio what he’s going to do about the national debt. Rubio blames “people in Washington that don’t care right now.” | |
| Rubio in Bedford: "What's happening with Christians in the Middle East is genocide." | |
| 6.38pm GMT | |
| 18:38 | |
| Guardian political reporter Sabrina Siddiqui flags a fresh poll of the Republican race in New Hampshire published by Monmouth university. | |
| It shows a fight for second. And Trump in runaway first, gobbling nearly a third of votes of support. | |
| In two days we’ll know. | |
| New Monmouth NH GOP poll shows close fight for 2nd:Trump: 30Kasich 14 Rubio 13 Jeb! 13Cruz 12 Christie 6Fiorina 5Carson 4 | |
| Real Clear Politics polling averages have Trump in first by 15.7 points and Rubio instead of Kasich in second – though Rubio-Kasich-Cruz are packed into a four-point band in the averages, tight tight tight. | |
| 6.34pm GMT | |
| 18:34 | |
| Guardian political reporter Ben Jacobs is at a Donald Trump rally in Plymouth, New Hampshire, with his hands on the tweetboard: | |
| Trump: Let's say Jeb won, which is an impossibility | |
| Donald Trump: I have no friends as far as I am concerned | |
| [What about the Mexicans and Muslims and Chinese and members of the media and everyone else he claims as close friends before he shivs them?] | |
| Trump: Even in the Wild West, you’ll get shot. They’ll shoot you but they won’t cut your head off. | |
| Donald Trump is now insisting college kids were scalping tickets to the debate last night | |
| 6.31pm GMT | |
| 18:31 | |
| With two days to go until New Hampshire votes, the Republicans are turning on one another like underfed house pets (got a better analogy? Self-publish in the comments – that’s what they’re there for!). | |
| Jeb Bush has turned Trump’s preferred imprecation back on the source. LOSER. And the crowd loves it! He should bring up the wall? | |
| I've never seen Bush so fired up. He gets a long standing ovation for calling Trump a "loser" pic.twitter.com/0CfwmKn8MH | |
| 6.28pm GMT | |
| 18:28 | |
| Well-observed. | |
| Cruz still blasting country music at these NH town halls. If he wants the @RandPaul vote he should switch to Rush. | |
| 6.27pm GMT | |
| 18:27 | |
| A good night’s sleep has not slackened New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s thirst for the attack. | |
| Here he is at a rally in New Hampshire today speaking at length about how much he admires Ohio governor John Kasich – before throwing him under the bus. He says Kasich’s record has not been combed by local media. “The interrogation by the Akron Sun ain’t doin’ it.” | |
| Ahem. It’s the Akron Beacon Journal, governor. | |
| “I’m just better. I’ve been tested,” Christie says. He points out that New Jersey is one of the toughest media markets in the world. He implies that he’s survived nicely. In fact barrels of ink have been spilled by the regional press describing and decrying Christie’s shortcomings, and he’s deeply unpopular in his home state. | |
| But at least he’s vetted? | |
| Christie: "With all due respect, to I think it's the Columbus Journal [it's the dispatch] it ain't the NYTimes" https://t.co/4gE75jyRij | |
| 6.15pm GMT | |
| 18:15 | |
| Hello from Sanders event in Portsmouth, NH | |
| Tom McCarthy | |
| We’ve relocated the blog for the moment to Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, New Hampshire – we’re in the gym – where Bernie Sanders is scheduled to appear in about 45 minutes for a get-out-the-vote rally. | |
| Packed house here. “I don’t think that we’re gonna get a seat,” says one arrival. She’s extremely right. | |
| Pre-rally music includes the under-heard Steve Earle song The Revolution Starts Now. | |
| And now it’s Neil Young. Click on this video, it will be like being here – but with seats! | |
| Updated | |
| at 6.20pm GMT | |
| 5.54pm GMT | 5.54pm GMT |
| 17:54 | 17:54 |
| Steinem apologizes | Steinem apologizes |
| Feminist writer Gloria Steinem has apologized for her remarks made this weekend about young women who support Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton. | Feminist writer Gloria Steinem has apologized for her remarks made this weekend about young women who support Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton. |
| On Sunday Steinem posted to her Facebook page that she “misspoke” and did not mean to imply “young women aren’t serious in their politics”. | On Sunday Steinem posted to her Facebook page that she “misspoke” and did not mean to imply “young women aren’t serious in their politics”. |
| In a case of talk-show Interruptus, I misspoke on the Bill Maher show recently, and apologize for what’s been misinterpreted as implying young women aren’t serious in their politics. | In a case of talk-show Interruptus, I misspoke on the Bill Maher show recently, and apologize for what’s been misinterpreted as implying young women aren’t serious in their politics. |
| What I had just said on the same show was the opposite: young women are active, mad as hell about what’s happening to them, graduating in debt, but averaging a million dollars less over their lifetimes to pay it back. Whether they gravitate to Bernie or Hillary, young women are activist and feminist in greater numbers than ever before. | What I had just said on the same show was the opposite: young women are active, mad as hell about what’s happening to them, graduating in debt, but averaging a million dollars less over their lifetimes to pay it back. Whether they gravitate to Bernie or Hillary, young women are activist and feminist in greater numbers than ever before. |
| On the Bill Maher show late on Friday night, Steinem said: “Women are more for [Clinton] than men are. Men tend to get more conservative because they gain power as they age, women get more radical because they lose power as they age. | On the Bill Maher show late on Friday night, Steinem said: “Women are more for [Clinton] than men are. Men tend to get more conservative because they gain power as they age, women get more radical because they lose power as they age. |
| “They’re going to get more activist as they grow older. And when you’re younger, you think: ‘Where are the boys? The boys are with Bernie.’” | “They’re going to get more activist as they grow older. And when you’re younger, you think: ‘Where are the boys? The boys are with Bernie.’” |
| More than 3,000 people signed a petition – entitled “Walk it back Ms Steinem – we aren’t here for the boys” – asking Steinem to apologize for the remark. | |
| Related: Gloria Steinem: women are supporting Bernie Sanders 'for the boys' | Related: Gloria Steinem: women are supporting Bernie Sanders 'for the boys' |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.26pm GMT | |
| 5.39pm GMT | 5.39pm GMT |
| 17:39 | 17:39 |
| Adam Gabbatt | Adam Gabbatt |
| An event in North Hampton this morning showed that Chris Christie has essentially pinned his primary hopes on his performance in last night’s debate, in which he pummeled Marco Rubio for repeating the same canned lines over and over. | An event in North Hampton this morning showed that Chris Christie has essentially pinned his primary hopes on his performance in last night’s debate, in which he pummeled Marco Rubio for repeating the same canned lines over and over. |
| On Sunday Christie had one message. It boiled down to: “I was good in the debate last night.” He repeated it a lot. | On Sunday Christie had one message. It boiled down to: “I was good in the debate last night.” He repeated it a lot. |
| “I decided to engage last night and how do you think it went?” Christie asked the crowd in an event in a school. | “I decided to engage last night and how do you think it went?” Christie asked the crowd in an event in a school. |
| They thought it went well. | They thought it went well. |
| Of Washington DC, Christie asked: “Does the place need to be burned down?” | Of Washington DC, Christie asked: “Does the place need to be burned down?” |
| They believed that it did. | They believed that it did. |
| “Yeah it does, and I’m a good as arsonist as anybody you saw that last night.” | “Yeah it does, and I’m a good as arsonist as anybody you saw that last night.” |
| Of Marco Rubio, Christie said he like him. But the Texas senator is just too inexperienced, he said. | Of Marco Rubio, Christie said he like him. But the Texas senator is just too inexperienced, he said. |
| “The lights were bright last night and all of America saw whose ready and whose not I’m ready he’s not.” | “The lights were bright last night and all of America saw whose ready and whose not I’m ready he’s not.” |
| Christie’s performance in the debate - where he came out firing at Rubio and carried on pulling the trigger for two-and-a-half hours - had resonated with the crowd, as well as with himself. | Christie’s performance in the debate - where he came out firing at Rubio and carried on pulling the trigger for two-and-a-half hours - had resonated with the crowd, as well as with himself. |
| “You were on fire last night!” a woman shouted out as the New Jersey governor took questions. | “You were on fire last night!” a woman shouted out as the New Jersey governor took questions. |
| “And I don’t intend to cool off until I beat Hillary Clinton.” | “And I don’t intend to cool off until I beat Hillary Clinton.” |
| The importance of Christie’s debate prowess, he says, is that he is the only Republican who can beat Clinton in a one on one. | The importance of Christie’s debate prowess, he says, is that he is the only Republican who can beat Clinton in a one on one. |
| He offered an extended metaphor where he compared himself to an old truck. | He offered an extended metaphor where he compared himself to an old truck. |
| Sometimes when people buy a new truck but it doesn’t get through mud as well as their old truck, he said. “You nominate this old truck and I tell you what’s going to happen, I’m going to get through that mud. I’m going to run her right over on my way to the White House.” | Sometimes when people buy a new truck but it doesn’t get through mud as well as their old truck, he said. “You nominate this old truck and I tell you what’s going to happen, I’m going to get through that mud. I’m going to run her right over on my way to the White House.” |
| Christie just did a solid Trump impression here in Hampton, NH, mocking his plans for a "beautiful marvelous wall" pic.twitter.com/FkHqfhjMwU | Christie just did a solid Trump impression here in Hampton, NH, mocking his plans for a "beautiful marvelous wall" pic.twitter.com/FkHqfhjMwU |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.41pm GMT | at 5.41pm GMT |
| 5.23pm GMT | 5.23pm GMT |
| 17:23 | 17:23 |
| Martin Pengelly | Martin Pengelly |
| After Saturday’s Republican debate the talk of the trail has been Marco Rubio’s difficulties with pre-prepared lines, their tone-deaf repetition, and how to handle Chris Christie when the governor barrels into the middle of those lines like a heavyweight champion scenting blood. | After Saturday’s Republican debate the talk of the trail has been Marco Rubio’s difficulties with pre-prepared lines, their tone-deaf repetition, and how to handle Chris Christie when the governor barrels into the middle of those lines like a heavyweight champion scenting blood. |
| It may be easy, in all that excitement, to forget that before the debate Rubio was emerging as the favourite to take the “establishment” mantle and challenge Donald Trump and Ted Cruz for the nomination. | It may be easy, in all that excitement, to forget that before the debate Rubio was emerging as the favourite to take the “establishment” mantle and challenge Donald Trump and Ted Cruz for the nomination. |
| Here’s one of many, many talking heads – David Frum, once a George W Bush speechwriter, now senior editor at The Atlantic – on CNN’s GPS with Fareed Zakaria, discussing what Rubio has to do, surving debate blunders aside. | Here’s one of many, many talking heads – David Frum, once a George W Bush speechwriter, now senior editor at The Atlantic – on CNN’s GPS with Fareed Zakaria, discussing what Rubio has to do, surving debate blunders aside. |
| The “lane” Frum refers to is the part of the nomination race occupied by such “mainstream”, “establishment” or, whisper it, “moderate” candidates as Christie, Jeb Bush and John Kasich. | The “lane” Frum refers to is the part of the nomination race occupied by such “mainstream”, “establishment” or, whisper it, “moderate” candidates as Christie, Jeb Bush and John Kasich. |
| Rubio is certainly … leading in the group it is most lucrative to be leading in. You would certainly like to be his finance chairman in the week after Iowa. | Rubio is certainly … leading in the group it is most lucrative to be leading in. You would certainly like to be his finance chairman in the week after Iowa. |
| But … a lot of things have to go right for him … There’s a tendency to report as if OK, it’s now all over because … he is now leading in the most lucrative lane. | But … a lot of things have to go right for him … There’s a tendency to report as if OK, it’s now all over because … he is now leading in the most lucrative lane. |
| He has to dominate that lane very quickly. He has to persuade the other people in that lane to exit soon and graciously. He has to persuade George – sorry, Jeb Bush, not to use his $50m remaining of Super Pac money to destroy Rubio in a way that they have been doing until now. | He has to dominate that lane very quickly. He has to persuade the other people in that lane to exit soon and graciously. He has to persuade George – sorry, Jeb Bush, not to use his $50m remaining of Super Pac money to destroy Rubio in a way that they have been doing until now. |
| And he has to find some way to get Donald Trump to exit the stage without smashing all the scenery on the way off the set. | And he has to find some way to get Donald Trump to exit the stage without smashing all the scenery on the way off the set. |
| Challenging. | Challenging. |
| Here, meanwhile, is Frum discussing his most famous bit of work for Bush. | Here, meanwhile, is Frum discussing his most famous bit of work for Bush. |
| Related: Julian Borger meets David Frum, the man who created the axis of evil | Related: Julian Borger meets David Frum, the man who created the axis of evil |
| 4.41pm GMT | 4.41pm GMT |
| 16:41 | 16:41 |
| Martin Pengelly | Martin Pengelly |
| More from Chris Christie, who exuded confidence during his tour of the shows, after his debate takedown of the double-downing Marco Rubio. That was, after all, the go-to debate footage for all the shows to show on Sunday. | More from Chris Christie, who exuded confidence during his tour of the shows, after his debate takedown of the double-downing Marco Rubio. That was, after all, the go-to debate footage for all the shows to show on Sunday. |
| Appearing on Fox News Sunday, the New Jersey governor looked to parlay the debate-stage blows he landed so heavily on Rubio into New Hampshire votes, handy things to have when the state is central to the survival of one’s campaign. He did so in part by suggesting the Florida senator would be the wrong guy to send into a presidential debate against Hillary Clinton. | Appearing on Fox News Sunday, the New Jersey governor looked to parlay the debate-stage blows he landed so heavily on Rubio into New Hampshire votes, handy things to have when the state is central to the survival of one’s campaign. He did so in part by suggesting the Florida senator would be the wrong guy to send into a presidential debate against Hillary Clinton. |
| Christie asked: do Republican voters want someone who can “absolutely answer” every point made by Clinton – or Bernie Sanders, Chris, or Bernie Sanders – or do they want someone who will “crumble” when the former secretary of state – or the senator from Vermont, Chris, or the senator from Vermont – turns up the heat? | Christie asked: do Republican voters want someone who can “absolutely answer” every point made by Clinton – or Bernie Sanders, Chris, or Bernie Sanders – or do they want someone who will “crumble” when the former secretary of state – or the senator from Vermont, Chris, or the senator from Vermont – turns up the heat? |
| Christie then finished his appearance by telling Fox host Chris Wallace: “Thanks for coming on.” | Christie then finished his appearance by telling Fox host Chris Wallace: “Thanks for coming on.” |
| Cue much hilarity and hilarious banter between interviewer and interviewee, in an exchange almost – but not quite – as amusing as ABC’s debate intro fluff or subsequent Fox guest John Kasich’s live-to-the-nation struggle to detach himself from his microphone and let incoming governator Jeb Bush sit down. | Cue much hilarity and hilarious banter between interviewer and interviewee, in an exchange almost – but not quite – as amusing as ABC’s debate intro fluff or subsequent Fox guest John Kasich’s live-to-the-nation struggle to detach himself from his microphone and let incoming governator Jeb Bush sit down. |
| Wallace then said he felt like “a barber”, his chair constantly filled – in this case, by presidential candidates with lovely, thick heads of hair. | Wallace then said he felt like “a barber”, his chair constantly filled – in this case, by presidential candidates with lovely, thick heads of hair. |
| “I need a haircut,” said Bush. | “I need a haircut,” said Bush. |
| And then the red-hot political debate – politichat? politifun? – resumed. | And then the red-hot political debate – politichat? politifun? – resumed. |
| Related: Marco Rubio doubles down on debate repetition: 'I'm going to keep saying it' | Related: Marco Rubio doubles down on debate repetition: 'I'm going to keep saying it' |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.42pm GMT | at 4.42pm GMT |
| 4.09pm GMT | 4.09pm GMT |
| 16:09 | 16:09 |
| Trump defends his defense of torture. He says “In terms of getting information, it works.” | Trump defends his defense of torture. He says “In terms of getting information, it works.” |
| NBC host Chuck Todd doesn’t mention the comprehensive Senate report that found torture didn’t work, and even produced false information, but it was released way back in 2014 so maybe he’s forgotten. | NBC host Chuck Todd doesn’t mention the comprehensive Senate report that found torture didn’t work, and even produced false information, but it was released way back in 2014 so maybe he’s forgotten. |
| But he does ask shouldn’t the US be better than subjecting prisoners to mock drowning and other torture techniques? | But he does ask shouldn’t the US be better than subjecting prisoners to mock drowning and other torture techniques? |
| “OK they can do it but we can’t?” Trump asks. “Look when they fly planes into the World Trade Center and kill many thousands … you can do waterboarding, and you can do a step beyond waterboarding, it wouldn’t bother me a little bit.” | “OK they can do it but we can’t?” Trump asks. “Look when they fly planes into the World Trade Center and kill many thousands … you can do waterboarding, and you can do a step beyond waterboarding, it wouldn’t bother me a little bit.” |
| Related: US report on 'enhanced interrogation' concludes: torture doesn't work | Related: US report on 'enhanced interrogation' concludes: torture doesn't work |
| 4.06pm GMT | 4.06pm GMT |
| 16:06 | 16:06 |
| Donald Trump is also on the NBC program, and Chuck Todd asks him the same thing CNN asked how he feels about his Iowa loss to Texas senator Ted Cruz. Does he need victory in New Hampshire? | Donald Trump is also on the NBC program, and Chuck Todd asks him the same thing CNN asked how he feels about his Iowa loss to Texas senator Ted Cruz. Does he need victory in New Hampshire? |
| “I would say that I would like to win but I don’t know that it’s necessary,” Trump says. “I don’t know that I need it, I hope that I get it.” | “I would say that I would like to win but I don’t know that it’s necessary,” Trump says. “I don’t know that I need it, I hope that I get it.” |
| He’s quiet about the malfeasance of the Cruz campaign in Iowa, where staffers falsely told voters that Ben Carson had dropped out of the campaign. | He’s quiet about the malfeasance of the Cruz campaign in Iowa, where staffers falsely told voters that Ben Carson had dropped out of the campaign. |
| I think what happened was very unfortunate. I think it was very unfair to Ben, and in a certain way it was unfair to me … I was a strong second, but I’m not thinking about Iowa, I’m thinking about New Hampshire, I’m not thinking about it any more. | I think what happened was very unfortunate. I think it was very unfair to Ben, and in a certain way it was unfair to me … I was a strong second, but I’m not thinking about Iowa, I’m thinking about New Hampshire, I’m not thinking about it any more. |
| “I worked hard there, I really liked Iowa, I liked the people of Iowa,” he goes on. “I like this system much better in New Hampshire where you go out, you like somebody and you vote.” | “I worked hard there, I really liked Iowa, I liked the people of Iowa,” he goes on. “I like this system much better in New Hampshire where you go out, you like somebody and you vote.” |
| He says he’s $50m under budget, and that he’s given his staffers unlimited access to the bank to get out the vote. | He says he’s $50m under budget, and that he’s given his staffers unlimited access to the bank to get out the vote. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.14pm GMT | at 4.14pm GMT |
| 3.48pm GMT | 3.48pm GMT |
| 15:48 | 15:48 |
| Clinton: we're getting offended by everything | Clinton: we're getting offended by everything |
| Hillary Clinton’s now on NBC’s Meet the Press. Host Chuck Todd asks about a comment made yesterday by former secretary of state Madeleine Albright in support of Clinton on Saturday, namely: “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other!” | Hillary Clinton’s now on NBC’s Meet the Press. Host Chuck Todd asks about a comment made yesterday by former secretary of state Madeleine Albright in support of Clinton on Saturday, namely: “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other!” |
| “Madeline has been saying this for many, many years,” Clinton says. “She believes it firmly, in part because she knows what a struggle it has been, and she understands the struggle is not over.” | “Madeline has been saying this for many, many years,” Clinton says. “She believes it firmly, in part because she knows what a struggle it has been, and she understands the struggle is not over.” |
| “I don’t want people to be offended,” Clinton says, but when asked whether she understands why someone might take offense she channels the spirit of anti-political correctness so familiar to Republicans. | “I don’t want people to be offended,” Clinton says, but when asked whether she understands why someone might take offense she channels the spirit of anti-political correctness so familiar to Republicans. |
| “Good grief we’re getting offended by everything these days!” she says. “People can’t say anything without offending somebody.” | “Good grief we’re getting offended by everything these days!” she says. “People can’t say anything without offending somebody.” |
| Clinton says people can take Albright’s “light hearted but very pointed remark” however they see fit. It doesn’t change her admiration for Albright: “She has a life experience that I respect.” | Clinton says people can take Albright’s “light hearted but very pointed remark” however they see fit. It doesn’t change her admiration for Albright: “She has a life experience that I respect.” |
| Related: Albright: 'special place in hell' for women who don't support Clinton | Related: Albright: 'special place in hell' for women who don't support Clinton |
| 3.30pm GMT | 3.30pm GMT |
| 15:30 | 15:30 |
| Jeb: I'd support Trump over Clinton | Jeb: I'd support Trump over Clinton |
| John Ellis Bush, aka Jeb, is on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, who’s just very awkwardly ushered John Kasich away after repeatedly telling the Ohio governor to leave. | John Ellis Bush, aka Jeb, is on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace, who’s just very awkwardly ushered John Kasich away after repeatedly telling the Ohio governor to leave. |
| Bush talks about eminent domain and Donald Trump: “He tried to take the property of a 75-year-old woman to tear it down,” Bush says, “to turn it into a parking lot for limousines for high rollers going to his failed casinos.” | Bush talks about eminent domain and Donald Trump: “He tried to take the property of a 75-year-old woman to tear it down,” Bush says, “to turn it into a parking lot for limousines for high rollers going to his failed casinos.” |
| Wallace asks about Rubio, who was Bush’s ally and some say protege back in their days together in Florida. Rubio “came across as kind of robotic”, Bush says. “He’s gifted but he’s never had the chance to actually make a tough decision.” | Wallace asks about Rubio, who was Bush’s ally and some say protege back in their days together in Florida. Rubio “came across as kind of robotic”, Bush says. “He’s gifted but he’s never had the chance to actually make a tough decision.” |
| Bush then tries to top Chris Christie’s boasts about dealing with Hurricane Sandy, saying he’s faced “eight hurricanes and four tropical storms in 16 months”. | Bush then tries to top Chris Christie’s boasts about dealing with Hurricane Sandy, saying he’s faced “eight hurricanes and four tropical storms in 16 months”. |
| He also brags about his conservative bona fides: “I’m going to support the Republican nominee, even if it’s Donald Trump, to show you how commit—” | He also brags about his conservative bona fides: “I’m going to support the Republican nominee, even if it’s Donald Trump, to show you how commit—” |
| Wallace cuts in: “How crazy you are!” | Wallace cuts in: “How crazy you are!” |
| Bush finishes: “—mitted I am to the Republican party. … Hillary Clinton would be an unmitigated disaster for this country.” | Bush finishes: “—mitted I am to the Republican party. … Hillary Clinton would be an unmitigated disaster for this country.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.16pm GMT | at 4.16pm GMT |
| 3.15pm GMT | 3.15pm GMT |
| 15:15 | 15:15 |
| Rubio defends debate display | Rubio defends debate display |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | Sabrina Siddiqui |
| Marco Rubio has defended his performance in Saturday night’s Republican presidential debate, writes Sabrina Siddiqui from Londonderry, New Hampshire, one day after he was widely panned for coming off as scripted in a tense exchange with Chris Christie. | Marco Rubio has defended his performance in Saturday night’s Republican presidential debate, writes Sabrina Siddiqui from Londonderry, New Hampshire, one day after he was widely panned for coming off as scripted in a tense exchange with Chris Christie. |
| In an interview with ABC’s This Week, the Florida senator was asked to explain why he repeated the same line – about Barack Obama intentionally weakening America – at least four times in the first hour of the debate, when pressed by Christie on his relative inexperience. | In an interview with ABC’s This Week, the Florida senator was asked to explain why he repeated the same line – about Barack Obama intentionally weakening America – at least four times in the first hour of the debate, when pressed by Christie on his relative inexperience. |
| Rubio, according to most observers, played directly into the New Jersey governor’s attack that he is rehearsed and incapable of straying from the same set of talking points. | Rubio, according to most observers, played directly into the New Jersey governor’s attack that he is rehearsed and incapable of straying from the same set of talking points. |
| “Actually, I would pay them to keep running that clip, because that’s what I believe passionately,” Rubio said, reiterating once more his point about Obama deliberately harming the country. | “Actually, I would pay them to keep running that clip, because that’s what I believe passionately,” Rubio said, reiterating once more his point about Obama deliberately harming the country. |
| Host George Stephanopoulos interjected, telling Rubio he was “getting pounded” for having repeated himself. | Host George Stephanopoulos interjected, telling Rubio he was “getting pounded” for having repeated himself. |
| Rubio pushed back, noting, as his aides did the night before, that his campaign raised more money online in the first hour of the debate than any previous event. | Rubio pushed back, noting, as his aides did the night before, that his campaign raised more money online in the first hour of the debate than any previous event. |
| “As far as that message, I hope they keep running it and I’m going to keep saying it because it’s true,” Rubio said. “It’s one of the reasons I’m running for president.” | “As far as that message, I hope they keep running it and I’m going to keep saying it because it’s true,” Rubio said. “It’s one of the reasons I’m running for president.” |
| Obama was changing the country, he said, “in a way that is robbing us of everything that makes us special”. | Obama was changing the country, he said, “in a way that is robbing us of everything that makes us special”. |
| “I’m going to keep saying that, because not only is it the truth, it is at the core of our campaign.” | “I’m going to keep saying that, because not only is it the truth, it is at the core of our campaign.” |
| Pressed by Stephanopoulos again on his repetition, as Christie taunted him for that very attribute, Rubio again doubled down: “It’s what I believe and it’s what I’m going to continue to say.” | Pressed by Stephanopoulos again on his repetition, as Christie taunted him for that very attribute, Rubio again doubled down: “It’s what I believe and it’s what I’m going to continue to say.” |
| “This is the greatest country in the history of mankind because of a set of principles. Barack Obama wants us to abandon them.” | “This is the greatest country in the history of mankind because of a set of principles. Barack Obama wants us to abandon them.” |
| Speaking a town hall in Londonderry, before a packed crowd at a high school cafeteria shortly after his ABC appearance, Rubio brought up the debate criticism himself. | Speaking a town hall in Londonderry, before a packed crowd at a high school cafeteria shortly after his ABC appearance, Rubio brought up the debate criticism himself. |
| “People said, ‘Oh you said the same thing,’” he said. “I’m going to say it again. | “People said, ‘Oh you said the same thing,’” he said. “I’m going to say it again. |
| “These things [Barack Obama’s] done to America are not accidents.” | “These things [Barack Obama’s] done to America are not accidents.” |
| Related: Marco Rubio turns into 'Marcobot' in disastrous debate gaffe | Jonathan Freedland | Related: Marco Rubio turns into 'Marcobot' in disastrous debate gaffe | Jonathan Freedland |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.17pm GMT | at 4.17pm GMT |
| 3.04pm GMT | 3.04pm GMT |
| 15:04 | 15:04 |
| Martin Pengelly | Martin Pengelly |
| Picture editor Sarah Gilbert has collected together some pictures of Donald Trump’s most enthusiastic supporters. As the example following shows, there isn’t much more to say… | Picture editor Sarah Gilbert has collected together some pictures of Donald Trump’s most enthusiastic supporters. As the example following shows, there isn’t much more to say… |
| The full gallery is here: | The full gallery is here: |
| Related: Donald Trump's most enthusiastic supporters – in pictures | Related: Donald Trump's most enthusiastic supporters – in pictures |
| 2.56pm GMT | 2.56pm GMT |
| 14:56 | 14:56 |
| “Do you think this is a Marco Rubio coronation? Or do you need someone who’s been tested? Tested by a Democratic legislature? Tested by hurricane Sandy. Tested by a hostile media in New York City?” | “Do you think this is a Marco Rubio coronation? Or do you need someone who’s been tested? Tested by a Democratic legislature? Tested by hurricane Sandy. Tested by a hostile media in New York City?” |
| That’s Christie, talking about sinister media folk like us. Not by name though. | That’s Christie, talking about sinister media folk like us. Not by name though. |
| Finally Tapper asks how the campaign has changed Christie. He says it’s “taught me just how profound the problems are in our country.” | Finally Tapper asks how the campaign has changed Christie. He says it’s “taught me just how profound the problems are in our country.” |
| And taught me again just how to be a better listener … Whatever happens in this race, I’ve been content with the way I’ve done it.” | And taught me again just how to be a better listener … Whatever happens in this race, I’ve been content with the way I’ve done it.” |
| 2.53pm GMT | 2.53pm GMT |
| 14:53 | 14:53 |
| At long last we have our final CNN candidate: New Jersey governor Chris Christie, whose debate performance was “something to behold”, Tapper says. | At long last we have our final CNN candidate: New Jersey governor Chris Christie, whose debate performance was “something to behold”, Tapper says. |
| Christie’s sitting next to the host, who apparently ensconced candidates all over his New Hampshire studio this morning. | Christie’s sitting next to the host, who apparently ensconced candidates all over his New Hampshire studio this morning. |
| The governor says he hopes the debate shows he’s the best person to take on Hillary Clinton in a general election. | The governor says he hopes the debate shows he’s the best person to take on Hillary Clinton in a general election. |
| “I think the whole race changed last night, because there was a march especially among the chattering class, to anoint senator Rubio,” Christie says. “The race is so unsettled now. You can’t trust senator Rubio to be the nominee of this party.” | “I think the whole race changed last night, because there was a march especially among the chattering class, to anoint senator Rubio,” Christie says. “The race is so unsettled now. You can’t trust senator Rubio to be the nominee of this party.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.18pm GMT | at 3.18pm GMT |
| 2.50pm GMT | 2.50pm GMT |
| 14:50 | 14:50 |
| Kasich bats around some ideas for people to head up the IRS: “Bloomberg, somebody said Mitt Romney, who knows!” | Kasich bats around some ideas for people to head up the IRS: “Bloomberg, somebody said Mitt Romney, who knows!” |
| When he gets Tapper’s “how has the campaign changed you” question, Kasich describes a sort of Voters Anonymous experience at town halls. | When he gets Tapper’s “how has the campaign changed you” question, Kasich describes a sort of Voters Anonymous experience at town halls. |
| It’s forced me to slow down even more and listen to people. … They talk about excruciating stories of their kids, their own problems, they cry. They tell me sometimes in front of other people, sometimes privately. | It’s forced me to slow down even more and listen to people. … They talk about excruciating stories of their kids, their own problems, they cry. They tell me sometimes in front of other people, sometimes privately. |
| “No one listens to them. No one celebrates when they win and no one [cries] with them when they lose.” | “No one listens to them. No one celebrates when they win and no one [cries] with them when they lose.” |
| 2.49pm GMT | 2.49pm GMT |
| 14:49 | 14:49 |
| Martin Pengelly | Martin Pengelly |
| More from today’s Guardian 2016 output… | More from today’s Guardian 2016 output… |
| Lauren Gambino has written a lovely piece about Geno’s Chowder & Sandwich Shop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, “an idyllic spot on the banks of the Piscataqua River” which is also the place where any Republican presidential candidate who is anyone – and Ross Perot – has pitched up over the years, the better to make their pitch to voters. | Lauren Gambino has written a lovely piece about Geno’s Chowder & Sandwich Shop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, “an idyllic spot on the banks of the Piscataqua River” which is also the place where any Republican presidential candidate who is anyone – and Ross Perot – has pitched up over the years, the better to make their pitch to voters. |
| The accompanying video is here and is worth a minute-20 of your time: | The accompanying video is here and is worth a minute-20 of your time: |
| Lauren writes, meanwhile: | Lauren writes, meanwhile: |
| Barry Goldwater was the the first candidate to visit, Fernald said. Since then, the small-shingled building in liberal Portsmouth has hosted Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and his wife Elizabeth Dole, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Carly Fiorina, to name but a few. | Barry Goldwater was the the first candidate to visit, Fernald said. Since then, the small-shingled building in liberal Portsmouth has hosted Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and his wife Elizabeth Dole, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Carly Fiorina, to name but a few. |
| She was also present in October, when Jeb Bush – remember him – spoke at the shop. Memories, memories… | She was also present in October, when Jeb Bush – remember him – spoke at the shop. Memories, memories… |
| 2.47pm GMT | 2.47pm GMT |
| 14:47 | 14:47 |
| “In this business things go up, things go down, you gotta put your feet on the ground.” Kasich the rhymester. | “In this business things go up, things go down, you gotta put your feet on the ground.” Kasich the rhymester. |
| Tapper asks him about why he accepted a Medicaid expansion under Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare program. | Tapper asks him about why he accepted a Medicaid expansion under Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare program. |
| “Obamacare’s a bad program, it doesn’t control the driving cost of medicine,” he says. He adds: “Reagan expanded Medicaid five times.” | “Obamacare’s a bad program, it doesn’t control the driving cost of medicine,” he says. He adds: “Reagan expanded Medicaid five times.” |
| But Kasich says he’s got a whole plan for a new healthcare system, and that he’s “rejected Obamacare”. | But Kasich says he’s got a whole plan for a new healthcare system, and that he’s “rejected Obamacare”. |
| 2.45pm GMT | 2.45pm GMT |
| 14:45 | 14:45 |
| We’re at candidate number four on CNN. It’s Ohio governor John Kasich. He’s asked about whether Marco Rubio’s poor debate performance is good for his chances as “the establishment” candidate. | We’re at candidate number four on CNN. It’s Ohio governor John Kasich. He’s asked about whether Marco Rubio’s poor debate performance is good for his chances as “the establishment” candidate. |
| “I’m not the establishment,” Kasich says. “I make the establishment very nervous because I’m a change agent.” | “I’m not the establishment,” Kasich says. “I make the establishment very nervous because I’m a change agent.” |
| “We’ve got to reform welfare for the rich,” he goes on. “I’m reforming the Pentagon when we have a Republican president. | “We’ve got to reform welfare for the rich,” he goes on. “I’m reforming the Pentagon when we have a Republican president. |
| But he says he’s baffled by why some Republicans don’t consider him a conservative. (Might be that New York Times endorsement.) | But he says he’s baffled by why some Republicans don’t consider him a conservative. (Might be that New York Times endorsement.) |
| “I have had so many Democrats come up to me and say hey, we like you, we hope you’re the candidate,” Kasich says, though he says those voters admit they’re not going to vote for him. | “I have had so many Democrats come up to me and say hey, we like you, we hope you’re the candidate,” Kasich says, though he says those voters admit they’re not going to vote for him. |
| Whoever’s gonna like me, I consider that to be a good thing. But it shows my ability, perhaps, to reassemble that old Reagan coalition …It might send out a signal that it’s safe if you’re a Democrat and you’re a conservative, to look at a Republican. | Whoever’s gonna like me, I consider that to be a good thing. But it shows my ability, perhaps, to reassemble that old Reagan coalition …It might send out a signal that it’s safe if you’re a Democrat and you’re a conservative, to look at a Republican. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.19pm GMT | at 3.19pm GMT |
| 2.42pm GMT | 2.42pm GMT |
| 14:42 | 14:42 |
| Tapper asks Clinton about whether some pundits are sexist in how they talk about her. She says that there’s no doubt a double standard still exists for women. | Tapper asks Clinton about whether some pundits are sexist in how they talk about her. She says that there’s no doubt a double standard still exists for women. |
| Then he asks the softball: has the campaign changed you? Clinton’s response: | Then he asks the softball: has the campaign changed you? Clinton’s response: |
| Having gone through this now twice, I think I am a different person than I was back in ‘08. I think the experience I had as secretary of state has given me a perspective and understanding of a lot of the issues and gives me the confidence to know I could do every part of the job. | Having gone through this now twice, I think I am a different person than I was back in ‘08. I think the experience I had as secretary of state has given me a perspective and understanding of a lot of the issues and gives me the confidence to know I could do every part of the job. |
| “Anger’s not a plan, and venting’s not a strategy, and we have work to do,” she continues. “We’ve got to make sure the economy works for everybody and not just those at the top.” | “Anger’s not a plan, and venting’s not a strategy, and we have work to do,” she continues. “We’ve got to make sure the economy works for everybody and not just those at the top.” |
| “We are the premier problem solvers of human history, and we have got to get back to that.” | “We are the premier problem solvers of human history, and we have got to get back to that.” |
| 2.40pm GMT | 2.40pm GMT |
| 14:40 | 14:40 |
| Clinton: Sanders is grabbing at straws | Clinton: Sanders is grabbing at straws |
| Clinton is asked about the mailers sent out by Sanders’ campaign. The flyers have an excerpt from a book by senator Elizabeth Warren, and Sanders just said that that’s what Warren thinks, not him. | Clinton is asked about the mailers sent out by Sanders’ campaign. The flyers have an excerpt from a book by senator Elizabeth Warren, and Sanders just said that that’s what Warren thinks, not him. |
| “That’s their typical artistic smear,” Clinton says. “It’s really getting old. They can’t point to anything. They’re grabbing at straws.” | “That’s their typical artistic smear,” Clinton says. “It’s really getting old. They can’t point to anything. They’re grabbing at straws.” |
| She says she wants to set the record straight “once and for all”. | She says she wants to set the record straight “once and for all”. |
| When she got to the Senate in 2001, she says, “I was deluged, not as a senator, not as a first lady lobbying, working against this bill.” | When she got to the Senate in 2001, she says, “I was deluged, not as a senator, not as a first lady lobbying, working against this bill.” |
| “The version of the bill that was going to be voted on did not protect child support, did not protect women and children from what would happen to them if their partner, their spouse, went into bankruptcy. | “The version of the bill that was going to be voted on did not protect child support, did not protect women and children from what would happen to them if their partner, their spouse, went into bankruptcy. |
| That’s why she voted the way she did on the bill in question by Warren, Clinton says. She adds that she put out a statement back in 2001 that anyone can read. She turns to question Sanders’ | That’s why she voted the way she did on the bill in question by Warren, Clinton says. She adds that she put out a statement back in 2001 that anyone can read. She turns to question Sanders’ |
| “Why did he vote to deregulate swaps and derivatives, one of the key reasons for Lehmann Brothers” to collapse, she asks. | “Why did he vote to deregulate swaps and derivatives, one of the key reasons for Lehmann Brothers” to collapse, she asks. |
| “I don’t understand why he doesn’t join me,” she adds. “We have to look at the shadow banking industry.” | “I don’t understand why he doesn’t join me,” she adds. “We have to look at the shadow banking industry.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.18pm GMT | at 3.18pm GMT |
| 2.35pm GMT | 2.35pm GMT |
| 14:35 | 14:35 |
| Back in real time, Tapper introduces Hillary Clinton, who the camera suddenly reveals is sitting right next to the CNN host. | Back in real time, Tapper introduces Hillary Clinton, who the camera suddenly reveals is sitting right next to the CNN host. |
| They talk about Flint, Michigan, whose residents have been suffering with lead-tainted water for nearly two years. CNN is going to host a debate there, and Clinton is going to visit the city later today. | They talk about Flint, Michigan, whose residents have been suffering with lead-tainted water for nearly two years. CNN is going to host a debate there, and Clinton is going to visit the city later today. |
| Tapper gets to the campaign. Can Clinton win in New Hampshire, where Sanders has such a huge lead? | Tapper gets to the campaign. Can Clinton win in New Hampshire, where Sanders has such a huge lead? |
| I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m just going to work as hard as I can. I love the New Hampshire primary because the interaction you have with voters in every setting is so rewarding. | I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m just going to work as hard as I can. I love the New Hampshire primary because the interaction you have with voters in every setting is so rewarding. |
| Related: 'It's all just poison now': Flint reels as families struggle through water crisis | Related: 'It's all just poison now': Flint reels as families struggle through water crisis |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.19pm GMT | at 3.19pm GMT |
| 2.33pm GMT | 2.33pm GMT |
| 14:33 | 14:33 |
| Finally Tapper asks Sanders the same thing he asked Trump: has the campaign changed you? | Finally Tapper asks Sanders the same thing he asked Trump: has the campaign changed you? |
| “It really has,” Sanders says, “in the sense that I perceive more than ever how far removed the Congress is, and you know I’m in the Senate, and the establishment media is, from where everybody else is.” | “It really has,” Sanders says, “in the sense that I perceive more than ever how far removed the Congress is, and you know I’m in the Senate, and the establishment media is, from where everybody else is.” |
| He recalls a campaign stop in Iowa, “a small town, a woman gets up and she’s trying to make it on $10,000 a year … she talks about the pain, the embarrassment of trying to make it on $10,000 a year.” | He recalls a campaign stop in Iowa, “a small town, a woman gets up and she’s trying to make it on $10,000 a year … she talks about the pain, the embarrassment of trying to make it on $10,000 a year.” |
| Then he remembers two elderly Iowans who came up to him at an event: “They’re saying we want to live long enough to come out and caucus for you. What do you think that does?” | Then he remembers two elderly Iowans who came up to him at an event: “They’re saying we want to live long enough to come out and caucus for you. What do you think that does?” |
| He says he was moved. | He says he was moved. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.19pm GMT | at 4.19pm GMT |
| 2.31pm GMT | 2.31pm GMT |
| 14:31 | 14:31 |
| Sanders hits Clinton ally and 'Bernie bros' | Sanders hits Clinton ally and 'Bernie bros' |
| “I happen to like Hillary Clinton,” Sanders says, “but I am astounded by some of the people she is hiring, including David Brock.” | “I happen to like Hillary Clinton,” Sanders says, “but I am astounded by some of the people she is hiring, including David Brock.” |
| The senator’s talking about a man who once worked hard to bring the Clintons down and later converted to their cause, calling himself an “ex-conservative” and a former “rightwing hit man”. | The senator’s talking about a man who once worked hard to bring the Clintons down and later converted to their cause, calling himself an “ex-conservative” and a former “rightwing hit man”. |
| Brock “used to be a rightwing guy” who attacked “people like Anita Hill,” Sanders said, referring to the civil rights professor. “He admitted, he said I lied about it. This is the guy who Hillary Clinton is making the head of her Super Pac?” | Brock “used to be a rightwing guy” who attacked “people like Anita Hill,” Sanders said, referring to the civil rights professor. “He admitted, he said I lied about it. This is the guy who Hillary Clinton is making the head of her Super Pac?” |
| NB: campaigns are forbidden by law from cooperating with Super Pacs. In practice it’s murky. | NB: campaigns are forbidden by law from cooperating with Super Pacs. In practice it’s murky. |
| “I just don’t understand where the Clinton people are coming from hiring somebody like that,” Sanders says. “Every day they’re attacking us.” | “I just don’t understand where the Clinton people are coming from hiring somebody like that,” Sanders says. “Every day they’re attacking us.” |
| What about “Bernie bros”, Tapper asks Sanders. | What about “Bernie bros”, Tapper asks Sanders. |
| “We don’t want that crap,” the senator says without hesitation. “Anyone who’s supporting me and doing sexist things, we don’t want them. We don’t want them. That is not what this campaign is about.” | “We don’t want that crap,” the senator says without hesitation. “Anyone who’s supporting me and doing sexist things, we don’t want them. We don’t want them. That is not what this campaign is about.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 3.32pm GMT | at 3.32pm GMT |