G.O.P. Presidential Debate

There are significant obstacles in his path: his history of supporting liberal causes, his sclerotic campaign organisation and his limited appeal – so far – to a narrow swath of Republican voters.

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

Later in the debate, Bush cautioned that Trump’s “divisive” language could be detrimental to the Republican Party.

“Since he has changed his mind on amnesty health care and abortion I would ask what are the principles by which he would govern”, Fiorina said.

The candidate who seemed to do herself the most good was former tech executive Carly Fiorina, the only woman in the debate, and the only non-politician on a stage full of current and former senators and governors.

Call them the not-ready-for-prime-time players, at least in the eyes of debate organizers.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest says Obama is interested in the arguments that will be made and will be following the news coverage of the debate. She approached Trump’s dominance in national polls with a sort of bemused respect, getting in a well-received zing without detracting from his supporters. Over half had not attended college and nearly 20 percent earned less than $50,000 a year. Asked if he would pledge to rule out a run as an independent if he does not win the nomination, Trump declined.

With Trump standing at center stage Thursday night, most of the contenders alongside him fought for attention without engaging him directly. Notably, Rick Santorum, the 2012 victor of the Iowa caucuses and runner-up to eventual nominee Mitt Romney, will also be missing from the stage.

How The Donald handles taking live fire from nine mostly media-famished rivals hungrily coveting his polling stats and his limelight will determine whether he can sustain his sizable lead.

“I don’t bring God into that picture”.

But – besides his slogan “Make America Great Again” and a few controversial positions on hot-button issues such as immigration – Trump has yet to set out a detailed platform, and he will be ripe for broadsides from opponents over his political inexperience.

“I have never seen anybody come out of a scrape with Donald Trump looking better than when they went in”, Fehrnstrom said on Fox News’s “Happening Now” on Thursday”.

He says in an email to the Associated Press that he “will return soon when I am exonerated”.

The biggest things people in TX are talking about – racial issues and Mexico.

Trump is doing something similar for the Republicans.

“Immigration without assimilation is an invasion”, Mr. Jindal charged. “I think he’s tapped into an anger that people feel they’re sick of politics as usual”, Ms. Fiorina said, touching on those who hope to see “festering” issues resolved. For its GOP primary debate next month, CNN is also reportedly planning to use a two-tier system rather than try to fit all 17 major candidates on one stage.

“Mr. Trump’s language is divisive”, Bush said.

The reaction by the GOP establishment, presidential candidates and even grassroots activists who are no fan of McCain and very sympathetic to Trump’s message was swift and unanimous: McCain was a war hero and Trump should not have denigrated the Arizona senator and former POW’s military service.

There have been other recent celebrity candidate flameouts.

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.