US Republican White House hopefuls on Tuesday struggled to break away from the pack in an election debate with fewer personal barbs, but some feisty exchanges on immigration and national security.
Eight top candidates gathered in Milwaukee for a forum that distilled differences between candidates in substance and style, but did little to dramatically change the contours of the race.
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and billionaire real-estate mogul Donald Trump entered the evening leading the race to become the Republican nominee in November next year’s contest to succeed US President Barack Obama.
Photo: AFP
However, it was their establishment rivals who took the lead in the debate, hoping to punch through with a command of economic policy and by training the focus on Obama and likely Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, a former US secretary of state.
Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina offered some of the sharpest criticism of the Democratic front-runner.
“A Clinton presidency will corrode the character of this nation. Why? Because of the Clinton way. Say whatever you have to, lie as long as you can get away with it,” Fiorina said.
Coming into the forum fighting for his political life, one-time favorite and former Florida governor Jeb Bush — the sometimes avuncular son of the 41st president and brother of the 43rd president — sought to break through with some tougher talk.
“Hillary Clinton has said that Barack Obama’s policies get an ‘A’ — really?” Bush asked derisively, listing woes ranging from a discouraged work force to high poverty levels, to kids on food stamps.
That “may be the best that Hillary Clinton can do, but it is not the best America can do,” he added.
Bush took the debate to Trump by trashing his immigration plan as unworkable and unpatriotic.
Addressing proposals to repatriate 12 million illegal immigrants, Bush said: “500,000 a month is just not possible, and it’s not embracing American values and it would tear communities apart.”
Trump hit back by saying: “We need borders. We will have a wall. The wall will be built. The wall will be successful. And if you think walls don’t work, all you have to do is ask Israel.”
Flagging poll numbers and poor debate performances have spooked Bush’s supporters, as well as crucial big money donors, who once fawned over the former Florida governor.
“I know I have to get better,” Bush told supporters last week after his lackluster performance in the previous debate.
It remains to be seen if he did enough on Tuesday to retain the crown of establishment Republicans against a tough challenge from one-time political protege Senator Marco Rubio, who again turned in a polished and disciplined performance.
Rubio won applause for a spirited rejection of rival Senator Rand Paul’s call for a more modest national security policy, with military spending to match.
“I know that the world is a safer and better place when America is the strongest military power,” Rubio said.
However, Tuesday’s Republican debate saw little of the fractious infighting that has marked the Republican campaign so far.
The previous debate, hosted by cable business channel CNBC, was defined by the confrontational tone that moderators took with the candidates, many of whom complained about being asked “gotcha” questions.
Amid pressure to narrow the field for Tuesday’s debate, which initially focused on the economy, broadcaster Fox Business Network changed the format, with only eight candidates at the podiums instead of 10.
Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich rounded out the main debate field.
However, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee failed to make the cut. They were relegated to an undercard debate that was held prior to the main event and also featured Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and former senator Rick Santorum.
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