The third GOP debate in Boulder, CO was quite a heated fight for the candidates to set themselves apart from the crowd. They were on a mission to make sure they looked spectacular but really did not go deep into the subjects that matter to the American people the most. Some feel this is due to the back and forth the candidates were doing with the moderators of CNBC.
The most talked about subject was the exchange between Sen. Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush. Things became heated between the two men. Marco Rubio stated to Jeb Bush “The only reason you’re doing it is that we’re running for the same position and someone has convinced you that attacking me will help you.” This was after Bush told Rubio he should go to work or resign. The attack from Bush was a shock considering that he and Rubio have been old friends. There were questions about Rubio’s personal finances. Rubio took these questions and turned them back around to the issues at hand. He stated, “I’m not worried about my finances. I’m worried about the finances of everyday Americans.”
The two lead runners, retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson and Donald Trump, seem to fade into the background during the debate at times. Questions were brought up to Carson about his outlook on tax policy and his involvement with Mannatech. Questions were brought up to Trump about filing bankruptcy for his real estate companies. Both gave answers that were not really satisfying to the people viewing the debate. During the debate Trump refrained from outright attacking his opponents. This has been his signature technique since the beginning of the race.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz took issue with the moderators that evening. His complaint was that the questions being asked lacked substance and he voiced his opinion. He asked, “How about talking about the substantive issues people care about?” He also stated, “This is not a cage match.” The moderators were also chastised for asking about fantasy football by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Ohio Gov. John Kasich also had some sharp words to say. “We are on the verge of perhaps picking someone who cannot do this job,” said Kasich. This statement was in reference to the two front runners, Donald Trump and Dr. Ben Carson.
Although, former Hewlett-Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina has done well in the past two debates, she was struggling to get a word in at the third GOP debate. Her response to tax issues was well received however. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee addressed issues about working families. Another hot topic with the candidates was about Social Security. Chris Christie argued that Social Security would not be around in the next seven to eight years. He claims the government has been stealing the money for years.
This debate was supposed to be a breakout for some of the candidates. Many fell short of this expectation. After Jeb Bush’s attack on Marco Rubio his momentum fell flat. People expected Donald Trump to attack Dr. Ben Carson since he has taken his spot in the lead. Trump did the exact opposite and really only spoke out sharply when John Kasich spoke out negatively about the two leading runners.
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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