Welcome to our live coverage of the March 3, 2016, GOP debate.
This is the first debate immediately following Super Tuesday. Here’s an update on who’s out of the race: just prior to New Hampshire, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, and Rick Santorum suspended their campaigns and will not be participating in the debate. After New Hampshire, Carly Fiorina, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie suspended their campaigns and will not be participating in the debate. On February 21, 2016, just after the South Carolina primary, Jeb Bush suspended his campaign. And following Super Tuesday, Dr. Ben Carson suspended his campaign.
At around 9:00 p.m., the remaining candidates are expected to take the stage. They are Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio, and Gov. John Kasich.
The debate is hosted by Fox News and will be held at The Fox Theater in Detroit, Michigan. The moderators for the debate are Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly, and Chris Wallace. (That’s right: I said Megyn Kelly).
What’s at stake in tonight’s debate? Here’s what the race for the nomination looks like so far:
A candidate needs to secure 1,237 delegate votes in order to grab the nomination. So far, Trump leads the pack with 319.
*Please note that a number of candidates won delegates in the previous primaries but aren’t included in the chart because they have each suspended their campaigns.
So what’s next? The candidates will vie for even more votes over the next week. On March 5 (Saturday), there will be 155 delegates up for grabs in 4 states: Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maine. That will be followed by another contest on March 6 (Sunday) when Puerto Rico votes – there’s 23 delegates in that contest. On March 8 (Tuesday), 150 delegates will be at stake in Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, and Mississippi. Finally, on March 10 (Thursday), 9 delegate votes will be up for grabs in the Virgin Islands. In the run up to the nomination, 1,777 more votes will be available.
Here are what the polls look like as of February 29 (via Real Clear Politics):
As the candidates compete for more votes, here are nine things to watch for in tonight’s debate:
- Eyes on Trump. Ever unpredictable, Trump continues to lead in almost all of the polls. This isn’t making the GOP establishment happy. Today, former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney blasted Trump in a speech that had many reeling. At the same event, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) also dismissed Trump as a serious candidate, saying that he has “many concerns about Mr. Trump’s uninformed and indeed dangerous statements on national security issues.” That follows on the heels of both House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) speaking out after Trump appeared reluctant to publicly disavow former Ku Klux Klan (KKK) leader David Duke. It’s clear that the GOP doesn’t want Trump on the stage. It’s also clear that Trump likes being there. I predict fireworks.
- Will Cruz pounce on Trump? To date, Cruz and Trump have danced back and forth, alternately claiming to dislike and then like each other. At some point, in order to get ahead, Cruz is going to have to make a move and prove that he’s a stronger candidate. Will tonight be the night?
- Rubio’s big push. Prior to the New Hampshire debate, Rubio had been quietly climbing in the polls. Rubio stumbled badly during the February 6 debate after being pushed by Gov. Christie who has subsequently dropped out of the race (and in a move that has confounded nearly everyone, endorsed Trump). Rubio promised – and delivered – a better performance on February 13 but has yet to find the momentum that folks thought he’d secure. This may be his last big push.
- Kasich continues to stay positive. Kasich had a strong finish in New Hampshire, finishing second behind Trump. He hasn’t since garnered the votes that he needs to be a viable candidate – but he’s still on the ticket. His continued positive streak in the midst of what many believe to be one of the ugliest primaries in recent memory has been a source of hope for many in the party. Let’s see if he stays positive tonight.
- Everyone courts Carson voters. Before he suspended his campaign, Dr. Carson had only secured 8 delegate votes. However, with the race growing tighter, every vote that he’s given up should mean a win for another candidate. Expect a scramble to pick those up.
- Taxes. It would be great if the candidates would actually talk about tax policy – but that’s not why taxes will be a hot topic tonight. Trump’s returns (and possibly those of other candidates) will, however. You can read what I think about Trump’s tax returns here.
- Flint. The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, has barely received a mention throughout the entire GOP debate series (I believe Kasich fielded a question in a prior debate). However, tonight’s debate will be hosted in Detroit – expect at least one question on Flint.
- Kelly v. Trump. Trump refused to appear on stage the last time that Fox hosted a debate with Kelly, claiming that she had not been fair to him in a prior debate. The jibes got uglier from there. Tonight, both are back on stage. Who’ll blink first?
- Hillary Clinton. Following Super Tuesday, it’s all but certain that Clinton will be the Democratic party nominee. The candidates have already invoked the name of Clinton in prior debates but now, more than ever, they will likely drive home the point that the GOP nominee needs to be someone who can beat Clinton. Everyone thinks they can – tonight is their chance to prove it.
As before, I’ll live blog the debate, latest news first. I know it can be hard to read after the fact but it’s easier for those following along contemporaneously (if you’re playing catch up, you can start at the bottom).
11:02 p.m. Debate is over. What did you think?
10:58 p.m. Closing arguments:
- Kasich says he has a record of solving problems. He says they’ve moved forward without leaving anyone behind. He says he will take that to Washington to “restore the spirit of America.”
- Rubio says it’s been an unusual election cycle. He says that the 21st century can be the greatest era “if we get this election right.”
- Cruz says he wants to talk to military, military family, etc. For police, firefighters, etc.: “I will have your back.”
- Trump says he will bring jobs back to America, strengthen the military, take care of our vets and “in a few years” make you proud to be in this country.
10:58 p.m. Trump is asked about the #NeverTrump movement. He is asked whether he would support the Republican nominee even if it’s not him. “Even if it’s not me?” He says yes.
10:55 p.m. Candidates are asked whether they would support Trump as the nominee. Rubio says yes (“we must defeat Hillary Clinton”). Cruz says yes because he keeps his promises. Kasich says yes but says he thinks he’ll be the nominee.
10:55 p.m. BREAK.
10:49 p.m. Kasich is asked about a campaign ad suggesting that Trump would make Putin his running mate. Kasich chuckles over the ad. He skips over the question of whether Trump is naive about foreign policy and instead focuses on what he thinks is important and what his strategy might be (hits a number of spots, says he would “finish the trip” if given more time).
10:47 p.m. Wallace notes that North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un has ordered nukes to be readied. He asks Cruz how he would react if he were President. Cruz says this is very serious and that we need to move on Korea, and that we should put pressure on China.
10:47 p.m. Trump corrects Rubio to say that Putin says good things about him, not the other way around.
10:45 p.m. Trump says that Rubio is not a leader. Trump interrupts his own speech about how he will be a great leader to say that we should take care of our vets. Rubio says that the world is complicated and complex and it’s a time for seriousness.
10:43 p.m. FOREIGN POLICY. Rubio is asked why Trump would not be a good foreign policy leader. He says Trump doesn’t take it seriously. Rubio says we need strong American leadership.
10:40 p.m. BREAK
If you’re wondering about Heller (the Second Amendment case Cruz referenced), you can read about it here. You can read the SCOTUS opinion here (downloads as a pdf).
10:38 p.m. Trump says Cruz was the primary supporter of the Roberts nomination and the result of that was Obamacare being upheld. Cruz says that is not true, that it was one journal article and that he did it after President Bush made the nomination.
10:34 p.m. Rubio is asked about the Second Amendment. He says he will protect Second Amendment rights. Trump says he is, too (he says that he no longer supports the ban on assault weapons). Cruz is also asked about Second Amendment rights, which he says he supports; he raises concerns about who might end up on SCOTUS.
10:32 p.m. Cruz is asked whether he believes a gay couple should be able to adopt. He says that should be left to the states, as should marriage. Cruz says he will not compromise on core principles, the Bill of Rights, and religious liberty. Trump is asked to rebut (he says he largely agrees with Cruz that it should have been left to the states).
10:30 p.m. SOCIAL POLICY. Kasich is asked about his statement on gay marriage and whether people of faith should be worried. Kasich says he disagreed with the court ruling but he hoped things would settle down. He says we need to respect each other and have more common sense.
10:27 p.m. MANUFACTURING and UNEMPLOYMENT. Cruz is asked what he would do to bring back manufacturing. He says what happened to Detroit is the result of 60 years of failed leftist policies. He says we should replace existing taxes with his tax plan. His plan includes a tax on imports but not exports.
For some additional thoughts on Detroit and bankruptcy, click here.
10:25 p.m. Kasich is asked about his thoughts on Detroit and the crumbling education system. Says fixing schools rests at the state and local level (states’ rights are a big item with Kasich tonight). Says that Detroit can be like Cleveland which is coming back.
10:22 p.m. FLINT. Clean water is a concern in Michigan. Rubio is asked about Flint – and why they’re not talking about it more. Rubio says he is talking about it. He says it should not be politicized.
For Sen. Frist’s thoughts on Flint and public health, as he wrote in Forbes, click here.
10:19 p.m. BREAK.
10:18 p.m. Kasich says people want the power back. And they want to know “who is going to fix this?” He implores the party to stop fighting (new theory: Kasich is really my mother in disguise.)
10:13 p.m. Cruz says to the voters at home, “Is this the debate you want played out in the general election?” When Trump interrupts, Cruz tells him to “Count to ten.” Cruz asks voters to stand with a broad coalition. Trump says he won 10 states and “everybody knows that on Super Tuesday, Trump is the winner” Cruz says that the poll Trump cites also shows him (Trump) losing to Clinton.
10:12 p.m. Rubio says that Trump is doing to the American voter what he did to the victims of Trump University. Trump says the “real con artist” is Rubio, says that the people of Florida can’t stand him and wouldn’t “elect him dogcatcher.”
10:05 p.m. Kasich speaks up. He says that politicians tell people what they want to hear and they don’t deliver. He says that he makes promises that he can keep (cites tax cuts, balanced budget). Rubio says that there is a difference between flexibility and telling people what they want to hear. He invokes Trump University. Trump and Rubio bicker about the BBB rating and the class action lawsuit.
For more about the lawsuit against Trump University, click here.
10:00 p.m. Trump is asked about his changes of position on certain items. He is shown video of himself changing his story (examples include Afghanistan, Syrian refugees, and whether President Bush lied to get us into the war). Trump defends himself by saying he meant Iraq (not Afghanistan). Kelly asks him about other examples. He says that he changed his issue on refugees because the facts changed. He refers to the change of heart as “flexibility.”
9:56 p.m. BREAK
While you wait, for a comparison of the candidates’ tax proposals (including the Dems), check out this handy chart from the Tax Foundation.
9:56 p.m. Kasich is here after all! He steps in to tout his foreign policy experience.
9:55 p.m. Trump is asked about National Security. He says that he would get “the best people.”
Hmm… Have we forgotten that Kasich is here?
9:53 p.m. Cruz is asked about his change of heart on Snowden. He says that he relied on the facts. He says the initial reports were troubling (“which is why Congress acted to correct it”) but it’s clear that Snowden committed treason.
9:52 p.m. Cruz says that yelling and cursing isn’t leadership. He says he (Cruz) will be more like Reagan.
9:50 p.m. Trump is asked about the national security personnel who have denounced him because of his stance on torture. He is asked what he would do if the military refused to carry out his orders because they feel it is illegal. He says they would not refuse him. He says we should go waterboarding and we should go harder.
9:48 p.m. Kasich is asked the same question. He cites his experience in federal government post 9/11. He says we can’t do this with just Special Forces. He says we need ground and air forces. He says, at some point, we have to deal with Libya.
9:46 p.m. TERRORISM. Rubio is asked about ISIS and his position on terrorism. Rubio wants to put more ground troops – Baier asks if that extends to Libya. Rubio says yes, that you can only defeat ISIS by denying them operating space.
9:45 p.m. Rubio says that Trump is wrong: he had 300 American applicants and didn’t hire them. Trump says “other hotels do the same thing.” Cruz again calls for the release of the tapes.
9:42 p.m. Cruz is also asked about his stance on the H-1B visa program and his change in position. Cruz also calls for Trump to release the tapes. Cruz accuses Trump of hiring non-Americans for jobs and saying that Americans don’t want to work in those positions. Cruz says that’s not true.
9:40 p.m. Trump is asked about visas for highly-skilled workers. “I’m changing,” he says. He says we need to keep talented people here. (Applause.) Kelly asks whether he is simply playing to fantasies, he says no.
9:37 p.m. BREAK.
The candidates have been touting their websites. If you’re looking for those sites, here they are:
9:36 p.m. Trump is asked if he will release the tapes from the NY Times. He doesn’t answer. He is asked again. He finally says no.
9:35 p.m. Rubio is asked about immigration. He’s scratching through this answer a bit (clearly, his throat is a bit strained). He’s being booed as he talks about his immigration plan, which Trump refers to as “give and take.”
9:32 p.m. Megyn Kelly asks Trump about the off the record NY Times interview. He hedges on the question but conceded that he might have allowed for negotiation on the wall. He does say that releasing off the record conversations isn’t fair. However, he reiterates that “Mexico is going to pay for the wall.”
(You can read more about NYTimes OTR here .)
9:29 p.m. IMMIGRATION. Cruz is asked about his comments that he worked side by side with Sen. Sessions on immigration yet Sen. Sessions endorsed Trump. Cruz doesn’t answer that question and instead focuses on political contributions – noting that Trump wrote 10 checks to Clinton.
9:27 p.m. Kasich is asked about a statement to increase the minimum wage. He corrects Wallace to say that he doesn’t support a federal minimum wage but does believe that it is something that states should work out themselves. He then talks about balancing the budget: “no theories, reality.”
9:26 p.m. Trump says he has been supporting politicians for a while and doesn’t consider himself a politician.
9:24 p.m. Cruz is asked about his plan to abolish the IRS. Wallace asks who will collect and oversee the administration without an IRS. Cruz references his website and says you can see the postcard for his flat tax on his site. As for IRS, he says that there will still be an office at the Treasury to collect the taxes but it will be smaller.
(Okay, admit it: you, too, were wondering what was on Cruz’ lip just now… It’s gone now. Whew.)
9:23 p.m. Chris Wallace asks about Medicare. Trump says we need to negotiate.
9:20 p.m. Chris Wallace is trying to ask Trump a question. Trump is talking over him. The question is how his plan can function on the tax side – he says he will cut waste, fraud, and abuse. He is asked how. “Department of Education,” he says. Eliminate common core, he says. EPA, as well. He mentions IRS (I assume on the waste, fraud, and abuse side and not elimination). Wallace says that the numbers don’t add up.
9:19 p.m. Rubio interjects that Trump won’t change the clothing line. Lots of yelling.
9:18 p.m. Trump is asked to respond. He says he only inherited $1 million from his father. He then hedges on the clothing line question and Wallace asks him again. He says he’s working on it but blames the devaluation of the currency.
9:16 p.m. ECONOMY. The conversation changes to the economy. Rubio is up first. He is asked about his comments about Trump. Chris Wallace asks him how many jobs he’s created. He says that’s the job of the private sector to create jobs, not public government.
9:14 p.m. Kasich says that the election is about the process. He is asked about a contested convention (I think it’s clear that he understands that’s the only way he’ll get the nod). He says he’s finally getting his message across.
9:12 p.m. Kasich mentions that he beats Clinton in the polls (Trump interrupts that it is one poll). Kasich says voters tell him that he’s the “adult on the stage.” He further says that Romney is “a great guy but he doesn’t determine my strategy.”
9:06 p.m. Cruz is asked whether his “brand of conservatism” has been rejected in favor of Trump’s populist message. He says no. He says that it’s not about slogans or hats but a real message to make the country better than it was under Obama. Rubio chimes in and says that Trump has not proven that he’s a true conservative. Bickering ensues – including over who can best Clinton.
9:05 p.m. Rubio is asked about his statements at the beginning of the race when he said he would not participate in bullying – then went on to do so anyway. Rubio says if anyone deserves to be treated that way, it’s Trump. He says he wants to talk about the real issues. Trump replies that Rubio is not “that much of a lightweight” and then says he was confused by comments about his hands (which he says are not that small… and in case my mom is reading, I’ll skip the penis joke).
9:04 p.m. Wallace asks about KKK and white supremacy. Trump says he “completely disavows” the KKK and white supremacy and has done “for about two weeks now.” He says he also disavowed them on Twitter.
9:02 p.m. Chris Wallace starts out by asking Trump about Romney’s speech earlier today. Trump says Romney just wants to be “relevant.” He segues into talking about trade.
(You can read the transcript of Romney’s speech here.)
9:01 p.m. The rules for the debate are announced.
9:00 p.m. The candidates take the stage. Introductions are made: Trump, Cruz, Rubio, and Kasich. Trump and Cruz reactions appear to be a mix of boos and cheers.