This is my take on how the Republican Candidates did on Wednesday night. In my first post I reviewed Trump, Carson, Paul and Kasich. Now I will review Bush, Huckabee, Rubio, Cruz, Fiorina and Christie.
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The Republican Candidates
Bush: Spent a good amount of time unsuccessfully attacking fellow Floridian Marco Rubio on time spent serving in the senate in recent 2015 while he was campaigning. "What is this, a french workweek?" "Give the job to someone who actually wants it!" was his mocking comments. Marco Rubio responded and left Bush silent with with "I admire Bush and I'm not running against him, I'm not running against anyone on this stage, I'm running for the president of the United States so Hillary Clinton isn't elected to continue Obama's policies" Turning to Bush he said "Someone's convinced you it's a good idea to attack me". Obviously both are looking for Florida's vote. One of the last questions to Bush was Do you consider Fantasy Football gambling, should it be stopped. Not an important question, Bush made fun of it. Loser for Bush.
Huckabee: He was only in a little more spotlight than Paul, Huckabee did well with his answers and rebuttals. Good way of talking about saving U.S. great for children and grandchildren. Told moderator when asked if Trump could morally lead the country, that it wasn't right and "I've got a Trump tie on tonight, beat that ok" He was sort of on the back burner as he didn't get into it enough, and is more reserved, did well with his allotted time. On the winning side for Huckabee. Rubio: Hailed by many conservative outlets as the winner and also called "a young man in a hurry", Rubio did make a silencing rejoinder to Bush's attacks and had good points against Hillary Clinton. He sometimes had not fire enough to combat questions, missed points, made good points about John Cain's numbers in 2008 and immigration. But other candidates mainly Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz and Chris Christie made his points stronger than he did. Probably will get Florida's vote. Not the big winner in my opinion, but still was a winner. Cruz: Great point on liberal media (super-PAC's), was a good calling down, definitely his best moment and one of the most talked of moments of the whole debate. Social Security was something he did well on as well as guns, Obamacare and seniors, Christie beat him to the punch once or twice. But Cruz had one of his best nights, urging people to stick to the relevant topics. Definitely one of the winners. Fiorina: She was cool, confident and knew her stuff, no gotcha questions there. She protected her record as CEO of HP, adding that the man in the board meetings who had headed the movement for her firing, has since come out and said he was wrong and that she did great. Why 401K's are good but businesses need less government, accountability, Tax Reform shortened to 3 pages? Lofty goal, but possible. She rose considerably after debate in National Polls. She criticized Hillary Clinton about women, pointing out that every policy the former secretary of state made has been noticeably bad for women. She ended in her closing statement by saying that she was Hillary Clinton's worst nightmare and "You know you want to see a debate between Carly Fiorina and Hillary Clinton. Definitely one of the winners. Christie: Christie was on fire , had good answers and follow-ups, he was always involved in arguments and his campaign calls Wednesday night "His best night of his whole campaign" He made good appeals to voters and about the Military and Navy, repeating the essence of Cruz's tirade about liberal media. Made great line to moderator, after the moderator continually interrupting "Let me tell you even in New Jersey what your doing is called rude" Enraging moderator(s). Not really defensive though, all offensive and once or twice made some odd claims. To me the three biggest winners were Carly Fiorina, Ted Cruz and Chris Christie. |
