Fiery, contentious GOP Debate as New Hampshire prepares to vote
Saturday night, the Republican presidential candidates squared off in their last debate before New Hampshire votes in the first-in-the-nation primary Tuesday.
After skipping the last debate and losing Iowa, Donald Trump was back on the stage looking to secure his lead in the Granite State.
“We’re going to win with Trump and people back down with Trump and that’s what I like and that’s what the country is going to like,” Trump said.
“We need a president with the judgment and resolve to keep this country safe from radical Islamic terrorism,” Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas responded.
A surging Marco Rubio, who’s a first-term Florida senator, faced questions and attacks about his readiness to lead and being too scripted on the campaign trail.
“Marco, the thing is this, when you’re president of the United States, the memorized speech when you talk about America and how great it is doesn’t solve one problem for anyone,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said.
“Marco Rubio is a gifted, gifted politician,” former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said. “He may have the skills to be a President of the United States, but we tried it the old way with Barack Obama, with soaring eloquence and we got someone who wants to divide the country up.”
On immigration, Ohio Gov. John Kasich calls Trump’s plan to deport millions of illegals unthinkable.
“I couldn’t even imagine taking a mom or dad out of a house when they haven’t committed a crime since they’ve been here, leaving their children in the house, that is not the kind of values America believes in,” Kasich said.
Christie. Kasich and Rubio all answered a question about veterans health care.
“I’d like to ask all the veterans listening out there tonight who are waiting in line for health care, who are literally dying: Do you think Barack Obama knows what he’s doing? I don’t,” Christie said.
“They’re the greatest people defending the United States of America and we need to take care of them and we will,” Kasich exclaimed.
“When I am president, they will be able to take their benefits to any doctor that they choose,” Rubio said.
In a lighter moment, all the candidates weighed in with their Super Bowl 50 picks. Trump, Cruz, Rubio, and Kasich picked the favored Panthers. Bush and Christie chose the Broncos. Ben Carson said: “With one hundred percent certainty, I will predict the winner it will be either Denver or Carolina.”
On the GOP side, New Hampshire has a track record of picking nominees. In 2008, John McCain won the primary, Mitt Romney won the state four years later.
