The proposal was so sweeping and controversial that top officials from both parties felt the need to condemn it, as did traditionally non-partisan political experts, like NBC’s Tom Brokaw. “And he gets his foreign policy experience from the shows”. Voicing appreciation for the response he had received on the campaign trail, Trump seemingly ended any further speculation that he might bolt from the Republican Party and run as an independent candidate, which would nearly certainly mean a Democrat would win the White House in the November 8 election. “This doesn’t do a thing to solve the problems”, Fiorina said, while Kasich noted, “It is not the way we’re going to strengthen our country”.
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The two confrontations dominated the interchanges, while the rest of the candidates concentrated their attacks on President Obama and Hillary Clinton. “Trump this, Mr. Trump that, ‘ I think it’s very sad”, said Trump, the one candidate to take time to chastize the debate sponsor. “So, so far, I’m doing better”, Trump said, apparently referring to his standing in a recent poll.
In the debate hosted by CNN in Las Vegas, Trump defended his call, saying: “We are not talking about isolation; we are talking about security”.
Marco Rubio, the USA senator from Florida, said he “wouldn’t shed a tear” is Assad were deposed, but Cruz replied, “It’s more than not shedding a tear”.
“You’re never going to be president of the United States by insulting your way to the presidency”, said Bush, who was once seen as a frontrunner, but whose campaign has struggled to gain momentum.
“Oh, you’re a tough guy, Jeb”, Trump shot back mockingly. Bush saying, “This is not a serious proposal”. There aren’t large chunks of time when they remain silent.
Meanwhile, Trump isn’t the only Republican presidential candidate who considered leaving the GOP. “He would not be the commander-in-chief we need to keep our country safe”, he declared. Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s most vocal critics.
Polls throughout the last week had shown a significant number of Republican voters either agreed with Trump’s proposal or had concerns about Muslims entering the United States.
BUSH: Or dealing with the Islamic terrorism that exists. “I want more rules…more scrutiny”, Paul said. “I know”, Trump said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
“He’s a very shrewd player in this”, Rottinghaus said.
Cruz has positioned himself as the tea party outsider and evangelical favorite, while Rubio is now tops in the polls among more establishment favorites.
“Marco knows what he’s saying isn’t true”, Cruz said after Rubio criticized him for supporting a law that passed Congress earlier this year that limited bulk collection of Americans’ electronic records.
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A conservative US senator from Texas, Cruz has tried to avoid direct confrontation with Trump, but Cruz’s rise in the polls could make him a target for the combative billionaire at the nationally televised forum from Las Vegas due to begin at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday (0200 GMT on Wednesday). Not only did Trump assure his supporters that he is dedicated to staying with the Republican Party, but that he’ll also make sure to do everything he can to beat Clinton. But the attacks in Paris and California over the last few weeks have accelerated the shift in the Republican race toward sounding tough, not compassionate. “I really am”, the business tycoon responded. The next GOP debate is in January, so time will tell if Bush continues to face off with with the Republican front-runner.
