Defiant Donald Trump dominates US Republican TV debate

Most eyes were on the 10 top polling candidates who debated in prime time.

Seven candidates were left out of the debate because of low poll numbers.

All eyes were on Trump during the first hour of the debate. He also refused to apologize for making insulting comments about women, saying, “The big problem this country has is being politically correct”.

The NRA ran an ad accusing President Obama of elitism and hypocrisy for allowing his children to receive protection at their school by an armed security detail while voicing skepticism about the value of putting guards with guns in all American public schools.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the dominate front-runner in the all-important money race, tried to rise above the Trump-related squabbling.

GOP pollster Kellyanne Conway says if Trump runs on his own, “no one’s voters are completely safe” because he could tap into anti-establishment sentiment in both parties. We’re not going to win by doing what Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton do every single day: dividing the country, creating a grievance kind of environment.

“You’re welcome to give to me, Donald, if you’d like”, he said.

Kasich drew repeated applause, particularly when showcasing his pragmatic approach to divisive social issues.

Fox News host Megyn Kelly pressed Bush on whether he had described Trump as a “buffoon”, “clown” and “ass–” during a private conversation with a donor, as reported Thursday by Politico.

Paul responded: “I want to collect more records from terorrists and less records from innocent Americans”. Fiorina skewered Republican front runner Trump over his ties to Bill and Hillary Clinton and shifts on abortion, immigration and health care.

Trump is smack in the center of the debate lineup.

Instead, it was the second rung of candidates who debated at 5 p.m. who took swings at Trump while he was absent.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich said his faith and family were most important to him. He said that while he favored traditional marriage, he had recently attended a same-sex wedding and would support his children if they were gay. “And she doesn’t represent the change that we need”, Graham said.

The first debate highlighted deep divisions within the Republican Party, with Kentucky Sen.

Bush, Walker and the other top contenders largely steered clear of tangling with Trump, focusing on their records and the conservative policies they would pursue if elected. “Listen, senator, you know, when you’re sitting in a subcommittee, just blowing hot air about this, you can say things like that”.

“I will not make the pledge at this time”, said Trump, who for weeks has said he would not rule out an independent bid that would likely split the Republican vote and boost the chances of victory for Clinton or another Democrat. Issues concerning immigration, job growth, foreign policy, and the size of government.

Rounding out the field was Sen.

One of the best parries of a Trump blast of the night came from Kasich after Trump intimated he could simply buy politicians, even those on stage. It was immediately apparent that classic Trump showed up to the debate – someone who pushes the boundaries in everything he does, including running for the White House.

“You’ve called women you don’t like, “fat pigs, ‘ dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals”, she asked Trump”. “What are the principles by which he would govern?” she asked.

While the candidates pitched their visions for the Republican Party’s future, they also made the case that they would present the strongest general election challenge to Clinton.

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.

The 10 candidates in Cleveland, selected by Fox News on the basis of recent national polls, provided a frank and bruising exchange of views.