Biggest Fight Of Debate Night: Candidates Vs. The Media

Carson didn’t have a memorable performance last time, but the stakes are much higher this time now that he’s becoming the front-runner.

‘Jeb Bush, why have your numbers fallen?’

He said the idea that a person who believes marriage is between a man and a woman is a homophobe was “one of the myths the left perpetrates on our society”. Marco Rubio managed to do both.

“Bush needed to appear as the strongest establishment candidate”, said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. Here’s our earlier analysis of what each candidate needs to do. One such message – GOP HAS A #KOCHPROBLEM – referred to the Koch brothers who have provided financial support to a few of the Republican candidates. Christie, which has gone hard for entitlement reform, doesn’t back down. But the more populist Huckabee is staunchly against touching them at all. “If this country does not keep its promise to seniors, then what can this country be trusted to keep?”

“I think that if I was speaking to my party I would say to them: Stop looking for a reason to oppose any candidate”, he said. He’s cut off though, but he probably scored points with his supporters.

While the focus seemed to be squarely on CNBC after the debate, the candidates also turned their fire on each other while on stage.

Bush jumped on the question, calling on Rubio to decide what meant more to him: running for president or representing voters.

Bush apparently agreed with the writer’s sentiment, however, chiming in that Rubio “signed up for…a six-year term”, asking whether the Senate offers a “French workweek [in which] you get like three days when you get to show up”.

Rubio responded by saying he was being held to a different standard than liberal politicians – and that Jeb was kowtowing to his political advisers rather than questioning the integrity of the Sun Sentinel. “I’m exhausted of losing”.

His tax plan, which is based on Biblical tithes, was decried as “fantasy” by Mr Kasich, who also condemned Mr Trump’s plan to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants and build a wall on the Mexico border. “Is this a comic book version of a campaign”, Harwood asks.

Trump again cited Kudlow’s praise for his plan.

The candidates are expected to face questions on economic issues including taxes and job growth. Kasich tries to turn it around by listing his opponents’ weaknesses.

“I’m a long suffering Jets fan”, he said.

Carson’s answer is really puzzling though, essentially admitting he can’t see himself as president. That’s not the kind of confidence you’d expect from a frontrunner, but instead kind of reinforces his low-key nature.

When asked if he thought Governor Chris Christie-who the majority of the Republican establishment in New Jersey is backing-will be able to rebound after recent polls have placed him at one percent in Iowa, Carroll said that it was too early to tell.