Unpredictable and known for last-minute decisions, New Hampshire voters had been expected to help winnow the crowded Republican primary, clarifying which of the candidates would emerge as the strongest alternative to front-runners Trump and Texas Sen. The school got about 200 tickets and the other tickets were distributed among the campaigns, the state Republican party and the debate sponsors. He attacked what he said was Mr Trump’s proclivity for “insulting women, castigating Hispanics, ridiculing the disabled and calling American PoWs losers”.
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Sunday was Christie’s 71st day on the campaign trail in New Hampshire. Conservative South Carolina and unpredictable Nevada await, followed by the dozen, mostly Southern states that have turned March 1 into this cycle’s “super Tuesday”.
The trophy-for-participating mentality has come to presidential politics when a third-place finish is considered a victory for the GOP establishment candidate. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have all staked their White House bid on New Hampshire, hoping a strong showing here will lead voters – and crucial financial donors – to give their candidacies another look.
Rubio, on the other hand, cautioned the other candidates for speaking about specific interrogation tactics.
The debate included Sen.
Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio campaigns in Manchester, New Hampshire on February 4th, 2016.
Then he shifted his focus to Kasich and Bush, as the three governors battle for numerous same voters in an effort to remain relevant beyond New Hampshire. Take your pick of historical analogies, the “experience” wing of the Republican Party launched a desperate, and very possibly doomed, assault at Saturday’s GOP debate, during a climatic moment for a GOP race that has been dominated by men who have significantly less real- world policymaking credibility.
If he fights through the media storm, does what he set out to in New Hampshire and demonstrates that he really is light on his feet and tough enough to stand up to Republicans and Democrats alike, he will have answered the criticism about his unpreparedness.
Kasich told stories of personal connections he said he had made with voters at town halls, including with a woman whose daughter has struggled with addiction. “I’ve listened to your stories, and I’ve had your hugs, and I’ve seen your tears, and I’ve seen you walk away and say, I now have hope”. I don’t feel good when a friend is getting beaten up.
For Egan, the standouts of the night were Kasich, Christie and Bush.
“There’s not a damn thing that’s joyful about this process”, Christie said. Lindsey Graham, for his final push.
“I got a flight scheduled for SC on Wednesday morning – I intend to take it”, Christie told the crowd.
Consultants surrounding Ted Cruz’s campaign are bouncing with joy with the latest polls. “You just simply haven’t”.
Asked by CNN’s Chris Cuomo if the senator believes Obama is “intentionally trying to destroy the country”, Rubio spokesman Alex Conant said, “Absolutely”. “People said, ‘Oh, you said the same thing three or four times.’ I’m going to say it again”, Rubio said in Londonderry, New Hampshire. But in every case, an active presidential candidate garners a lot more consideration than one who’s dropped out of the race.
Trump, who was to campaign later Sunday, continued to insist in a CNN appearance that he came in first in Iowa, losing only because representatives of the Cruz campaign spread false rumors that Ben Carson was dropping out. “We’re dividing and conquering”, said the younger Trump of his father’s absence.
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Marco Rubio, saying it solidified the central premise of his campaign: that his work and life experience make him the best prepared to take on Hillary Clinton and win the presidency.
