Top Moments of the CNN ‘Undercard’ Republican Debate

The other candidates also weighed in on Trump’s plan – Santorum said that while he didn’t completely agree with it, the plan is “nothing against Muslims, his comment was against this administration who doesn’t have a policy to properly vet people coming into this country….”

Despite his objection to Trump, however, Graham said he would ultimately support the businessman if he becomes the nominee. “Go after the radicals who want to kill us all”, he said, insisting the United States needs allies in the Muslim world.

Graham was adamant that such a move would be a mistake: “Donald Trump has done the one single thing you can not do: declare war on Islam itself”. But only Graham seemed interested in throwing Hail Mary’s, even if he doesn’t care that the GOP electorate is unlikely to ever appreciate them.

Graham added that Trump did not represent other Republicans.

Huckabee said if Islam were truly a peaceful religion, Muslims would have no problem “begging us to come listen to their sermons” and surveil mosques.

Republican presidential candidates (from left) George Pataki, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, and Lindsey Graham take the stage during Tuesday’s undercard debate. He says “we’re going to do whatever it takes”.

“Not all Muslims are jihadists”, he said.

“The bottom line – if it’s Trump, so be it”, he said. But the reality is all jihadists are Muslims.

The candidates also discussed the fate of Bowe Bergdahl, the American soldier charged with desertion. But if there was a star tonight – not a victor, because there really wasn’t one, and really hasn’t been since Carly Fiorina in the first undercard debate – it was Graham.

“There are at least 3,500 American-Muslims serving in the armed forces”.

Huckabee stated he wasn’t afraid of Trump, noting “I’d rather him be president than Hillary be president any day”.

Former New York Gov. George Pataki slammed Mr. Trump as “the know-nothing candidate of the 21st century”, but argued Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton is even worse.

“World War III has begun and we have a leader who refuses to identify it and by truthful to the American people for in the stakes involved”, he said.

To Muslims: “You are not the enemy. There must be American boots on the ground in Syria to win – if you don’t understand that, you’re not fit to be commander in chief”. “Your religion is not the enemy”, he said. While he’s probably better known for his social and religious conservatism, Santorum is no stranger to foreign policy and has called for a strong response to terrorism.

Pataki challenged his fellow Republicans’ stances, saying that women have the right to an opportunity to prove their ability to carry out roles they were previously excluded from.