14 of 17 GOP candidates in ‘debate lite’

Both were aggressive critics of Clinton Monday night.

Republican 2016 hopefuls preparing for Thursday’s debate are wrestling with one strangely important question: How do you take on Donald Trump? A candidate participating in an unapproved debate will be barred from joining any later authorized ones. He’s the new leader in ABC News affiliate WMUR-TV’s “Granite State” poll, leaping ahead of favorites like Scott Walker and Jeb Bush.

The candidates did not go head-to-head and only shared the same stage in the first moments as they were introduced. On those immigrants who have overstayed visas, Perry charged, “You go find ’em, you pick ’em up and you send ’em back where they’re from”.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich said “law-abiding, God-fearing” immigrants in the country illegally should be allowed to stay.

Republicans here wanted very badly to preempt the first presidential debate on Fox News by holding a more regionally focused event, to drive home the importance of their status as an early primary state. In their upcoming Ohio meeting, only the GOP’s top 10 candidates in national polling will be allowed on stage. An ability to speak extremely rapidly and clearly, without stumbling, was required.

It is why events like Monday’s forum are critical for the low polling candidates unlikely to make the first cut.

Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray in a statement said poll results for numerous candidates overlap when the margin of error is considered, making it unclear who is truly in the top 10.

Trump snubbed the New Hampshire forum after the Manchester Union-Leader, one of the debate sponsors, ran an editorial slamming him for saying Senator John McCain, the party’s 2008 nominee, was not a war hero.

Since announcing his candidacy last month, Trump hasn’t minced words when it comes to how he feels about other Republicans running for president. They may raise particular issues in hopes they will be part of the discussion in the Thursday night debate.

So while he had the chance, Graham, a U.S. senator from South Carolina, expounded on what he called “Clintonspeak”, to the delight of the GOP voters in the audience.

“We must have strongest military and everyone has to know it”, Fiorina said. “With that being said, I look forward to it, we’ll see what happens”. “My story is only possible in America”.

Chris Christie, New Jersey governor: 3.2%.

Among the topics brought up by the candidates was the Iran nuclear programme deal, illegal immigration and President Obama’s plans to curb carbon emissions.

“I’m an Eagle Scout”.

“I don’t want to be unreal”. Bush endorsed the same idea earlier in the evening.

Bush, meanwhile, noted he had a different view than his brother.

He said he got a T-shirt at a “Jeb swag store” that says, “My dad’s the greatest man alive”. “If I’m elected president I can promise you one thing: the will to secure that border will reside in the Oval Office”. But he stumbled over the words. He says that’s a policy he used for first-time offenders in his home state, where he also served as U.S. attorney.

Scott Walker, Wisconsin governor: 12%. There were several calls for defunding Planned Parenthood in the wake of the releases of controversial videos by a pro-life group.

Paul, Cruz and Rubio appeared by satellite after voting on Capitol Hill in favor of de-funding the Planned Parenthood organization. The questions were based on submissions from newspaper readers in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina.

“I’m not going to take anybody, I’m going to say what I’m for”, Walker told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly when asked how he would handle the billionaire frontrunner.