But it was a Republican presidential debate party as the GOP contenders had their first televised face-off of the primary season, and the laughter was in response to Donald Trump – both with and at him.
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Besides Trump, the Republican that came under fire from the group of seven fighting to make the top tier in the next debate, set for mid September, was Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Trump followed by saying that a lot of what he says is in jest, but that neither he nor our country has time for “total political correctness”.
According to figures provided by Google, among searches for the Canadian leaders and for the Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, Trump got 42 per cent; Harper got 27; Trudeau got 17, Clinton got nine; and despite his NDP leading recent polls Mulcair had only five per cent. It was immediately apparent that classic Trump showed up to the debate – someone who pushes the boundaries and has no qualms about leveling personal attacks in public. A first-time candidate, Trump is overshadowing the bids of a host of current and former governors and senators.
Trump was smack in the center of the debate lineup.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush started off his week stumbling in New Hampshire, pushed toward the debate with a major gaffe on women’s health care and teed off the debate Thursday stumbling through his answers yet again.
And for some Republican activists, that pointed to an element missing from his 2016 presidential campaign: the need to show more passion in order to convince Republican primary voters that he is enough of a fighter for their causes.
Haley says that people coming together in the wake of the shooting led to the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the grounds of the state capital in Columbia.
Trump in particular has pushed the issue of immigration throughout the summer, drawing criticism for saying Mexican immigrants are rapists.
Full quote: “So, if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even be talking about illegal immigration, Chris”.
The former congressman, who attended a same-sex union shortly after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling made gay marriage legal nationwide, said that “issues like that are planted to divide us”.
Mr Paul, a staunch opponent of the surveillance programmes, said he wanted to collect more records from terrorists, not law-abiding Americans.
To Trump’s right was Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whose victories over labour unions in his home state created his national profile. Ted Cruz, surgeon and tea party favorite Ben Carson and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee rounded out the debate lineup.
The candidates mostly stuck to the time limits established by Fox News moderators Bill Hemmer and Martha McCallum. “I know you gave him a big hug, and if you want to give him a big hug again-” Paul spat. And Texas Gov. Rick Perry demonstrated a wry sense of humor, quipping that Clinton is “good at email.” Sen.
Sen. Lindsey Graham R-SC also did well for himself, taking a hard swing at the Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, as did Fiorina.
Play video “Who Is Donald Trump?”
“Since he has changed his mind on amnesty, on healthcare and on abortion, I would just ask what are the principles by which he will govern”, Fiorina added.
The outspoken billionaire refused to pledge he would throw his support behind the person who secures the Republican Party’s nomination.
With Santorum and Perry prominently featuring in the last GOP race for the presidency, both would have been disappointed to appear at what was described as the “Kids Table”, yet neither did much to prove that they deserved a bump up to the main debate. Her campaign was pre-emptively making the case that there was little difference between Trump’s “outrageous” positions and the rest of the field.
Perry’s staff reserved space at an undisclosed restaurant, various aides to campaigns said, and invited all seven candidates.
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Thursday’s affair was the first of only six Republican debates before voting begins next February, a sharp reduction in the number of face-to-face meetings from 2012.
