MAIN EVENT: Republican candidates for president that made the Fox News cut for the premiere debate last night, top, greet the audience. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, above, mixed it up with Donald Trump over constitutional rights.
Here’s what we know — Donald Trump is in it for the long haul as the Republican nominee or a third-party candidate.
“Stupid politicians,” as he blasted away on the GOP debate stage last night, better get used to his brand of non-politically correct talk.
Secondly, last night’s prime-time debate was more of a coming out party for the Top 10 candidates than an attack on Hillary Clinton and President Obama. There was some arrows, but not enough. That could have been a missed opportunity. The presidential primary season closes quickly.
Overall,we got to know the candidates with some coming off better than others.
We know Marco Rubio will emphasize his appeal to the public with his working-class roots.
Jeb Bush pushed his fiscal conservatism.
Ted Cruz is very much determined to take the Republican party to the right.
Ben Carson showed himself to be the novice believing that “having a brain” is an important qualification.
Mike Huckabee spoke about the rights of the unborn.
John Kasich won’t be put on the defensive about his expansion of Medicaid, claiming it’s helping with the mentally ill and reducing prison recidivism.
Rand Paul got into it with Trump, but stressed his belief in constitutional rights.
Sure, this first debate was more a resume recitation, but that’s what you do day one. If you survive to the next round, you turn up the heat and win votes by aiming at the general election.
Frank Cohen is a political science professor at Franklin Pierce University.
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