ABC News, which is hosting the debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, has dropped an undercard event for low-polling candidates, leaving former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina as the only remaining candidate without a spot on stage.
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“You have not been involved in a consequential decision where you had to be held accountable”, Christie said to Rubio.
“That’s not what leadership is; that’s what Congress is”, Christie said.
After being mocked by Chris Christie for hewing too closely to talking points at Saturday night’s final GOP debate before the New Hampshire primaries, Rubio proved Christie’s point by sounding like a glitchy robot as he repeated what seemed like a practiced attack line on President Obama four different times. Rubio responded by saying Christie had been unwilling to return to New Jersey during a recent snowstorm.
Opponents in both parties circulated video clips of Rubio repeating his claims about Obama during the debate, enabling Christie and others to argue that he relies on canned, rehearsed sound-bites and speeches. “There it is, everybody”.
Donald Trump, who polls suggest is the Republican frontrunner in New Hampshire, got into an angry exchange with Jeb Bush on the issue of eminent domain – during which Trump was booed by the audience for telling Bush to be quiet. After a disappointing showing in Iowa, he took time off from campaigning and hasn’t been a major presence in New Hampshire this week.
“Since Donald enjoyed that, I will simply say that I have got somebody in mind to build it”, Cruz said.
“I’d have to pick Trump because nobody went after him and because he looked like a frontrunner”, Denton said.
“Jeb wants to be a tough guy tonight”, shot back Mr Trump, who is chasing a win in the primary after finishing second in the Iowa caucus this week. Asked about it on the debate stage, Cruz apologized again said CNN mislead his campaign into believing Carson had dropped out. Trump noted that Cruz refused to answer the question.
“And let’s dispel once and for all with this fiction that Barack Obama doesn’t know what he’s doing.
I think I came in first”, Trump said.
There is a fierce battle for second unfolding between Rubio at 17 percent, and Cruz and OH governor John Kasich, who are tied for third place with 13 percent.
Cruz drew heavily on the support of evangelical voters for his victory in Iowa.
Mr Cruz apologised for his campaign’s actions, but not before Mr Carson attacked him for having “Washington ethics”. Cruz said it was possible to deport people living here illegally.
Kasich, who has staked his White House hopes on New Hampshire, offered a more moderate view on immigration, saying if elected president, he would introduce legislation that would provide a pathway to legalizing immigration status, though not citizenship, within his first 100 days in office.
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The debate began just minutes after news broke that North Korea had fired a rocket that was belived to be a covert test of technology for a missile that could strike the U.S. mainland. “I’m going to do the right thing for the American public”, he said. But for two-plus prime-time hours on Saturday, he hit his marks-and his target-and was the only candidate who left the stage in better shape than we he stepped on it.
