Ahead of the first Republican presidential debate, 14 GOP candidates gathered in New Hampshire for a forum that both served as a warmup for the upcoming showdown and a reminder of the clunkiness that comes with such a crowded field of competitors.
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Unlike Thursday’s nationally televised presidential debate in Cleveland, Monday night’s forum didn’t have a cut-off for participation.
That first official debate has created no small amount of controversy because under rules set up by Fox News, and backed by the Republican National Committee, only the top 10 candidates based on an average of recent national polls, will be allowed on stage at the 9pm event.
Right now, it appears that former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie could nab the final two spots on stage, while former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, businesswoman Carly Fiorina, former Sen.
At the bottom of the pack, registering less than 2 percent of support in recent polls, are Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Sen. Ted Cruz at 9 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Kentucky Sen.
Advisers for some candidates have said they will focus on the issues and try not to let Trump steal the show. Rand Paul, and Florida Sen.
“And I would absolutely repeal and replace Obamacare”, he added, before offering more thoughts on illegal immigration.
A camera was fixed on the line of candidates in the front row, offering viewers across the country a chance to see how the candidates reacted to their opponents’ messages.
When he spoke of immigration, Trump said he would make the U.S. border with Mexico stronger as people continue to pour through.
The Fox format is the worst debate format, except for all the others that have been proposed.
The debate took place as another poll on Sunday placed Mr Trump at the head of all 17 candidates to have so far declared. Marco Rubio. Sixty-two percent of GOP voters said they could see themselves backing him for the GOP nomination, versus just 29% who said that they could not. “We don’t use any gimmicks or national polls”. The seven candidates not making the cut will be invited to participate in a candidates forum at 5 p.m.
“This confirms what we have known here on the ground, that there is a tremendous amount of support and excitement about Mr. Trump’s candidacy”, Trump’s South Carolina Director Jim Merrill said in a prepared statement sent to the media.
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That’s the cutoff by which national polls must be released to help decide which 10 candidates take the stage on Thursday.
