GOP presidential hopefuls square off

“I will not make the pledge at this time“, Trump said after raising his hand when moderators asked if any candidate would still consider a third-party run.

“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. “I don’t have time for total political correctness”, Trump said.

Other candidates tonight include Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie and John Kasich.

Trump’s unapologetic, off-script style offends some but has set him apart from a packed field of hopefuls furiously trying to garner the same level of attention.

Voters got a real taste of the Republican presidential candidates Thursday night. Some came prepared to challenge Trump, while others sought to build off his appeal to those who have responded to his blunt and often controversial statements about immigration and the failures of Washington.

Meanwhile, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush again sought to distinguish himself from his father and brother, former Presidents George H.W. and George W. Bush. He welcomed challenges from Paul and others about his closeness with the Clintons and the lack of clarity on issues like abortion and his track record as a business owner.

Bush says: “If we are going to compete in this world we’re in today, there’s no possible way we can do it with lowering expectations and dumbing down everything”.

Jeb Bush because, despite all his recent flubs and verbal flailing, he came across as the grownup in the room.

Joining Trump on stage in the important election swing state of Ohio was a field of seasoned governors, rookie senators and a never-been-elected outsider. “I would beat her definitely as a Republican, an independent is tougher”, he said.

Amid all the fireworks, there was little to no chatter during the GOP debate about an issue which Republicans have obsessed for months: Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of state and the deadly 2012 attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. “I’d rather just discuss the issues”, he said Wednesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America”.

“She is the epitome of the progressive, the secular progressive movement”.

He told us he had given money to nearly all of his rivals over the years, even to Hillary Clinton so she would attend his wedding.

A raucous crowd cheered the candidates on throughout the debate in Cleveland, the same city where Republicans will nominate their general election candidate next summer. Only former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina stood out and got rave reviews on social media.

Ms Florina asked: “What are the principles by which he would govern?”

“

If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t even be talking about illegal immigration”,

Trump said.

Things heated up early when Trump was accused of buying politicians.

“I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct”, Trump said.

It was a claim Trump wasn’t particularly keen to refute.

“You’d better believe it”, Trump said. “I’m talking about a lot of leverage”.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sik) received a rousing round of applause during Thursday’s first presidential debate when he said he can disagree with someone on same-sex marriage and still love them.