Simi Valley, CA – Billionaire businessman Donald Trump demanded and won most of the attention once more — praising himself while derided and scorned by his rivals — in the opening minutes of the second GOP presidential debate Wednesday night. Time after time, he defended his qualifications for the nation’s highest office as the others tried to discredit him.
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Though there was criticism of President Barack Obama and the Democrats as well, the debate underscored anew how the Republican primary contest has been dictated by Trump’s surprising sustainability.
Standing at center stage, Trump said he had a “phenomenal temperament” and a record in business that would help him on the world stage. With his signature brashness, he immediately took on his rivals, saying Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul didn’t deserve to be on the crowded debate stage.
The 10 other candidates took different approaches in taking on Trump, but all had the same goal: making clear they did not believe he was fit to be president.
“Do we want someone with that kind of character, that kind of language to be negotiating with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin?” Paul said.
Carly Fiorina, the only woman in the GOP field, credited Trump with being a “wonderful entertainer” but said all the candidates’ characters would be revealed over time and under pressure. She twice sidestepped the moderator’s attempts to get her to say whether she would trust Trump with America’s nuclear stockpile.
Fiorina, a former business executive, was the newest addition to the main debate after a standout performance in an undercard event last month.
Much of the focus during Wednesday night’s debate was to be on Trump and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has become the real estate mogul’s top target.
Bush tried to take on Trump directly in the debate’s early moments but was repeatedly interrupted by the GOP front-runner. As Bush tried to finish an answer, Trump chimed in: “More energy tonight, I like that.”
Trump’s jab was a reference to his frequent critique that Bush is a “low energy” candidate.
Go Trump Go
So sad.
Trump won.
I disagree with this headline. I actually think that the other candidates really expressed their views and ideas – and unlike last debate, finally got their time of day.
The ones to most benefit from tonight’s debate were Chris Christie carly foarino and ted Cruz.
The biggest loser was rand Paul. The other ones did fine as well. Time will tell……
I would pick any of the above over Hillary or the socialist.