Republicans pile on Obama, Clinton
Trump, Cruz face tough questions as Iowa voting nears
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz exchanged their harshest attacks yet Thursday in the first Republican presidential debate of 2016, one that revealed three groups of candidates — those looking to win the early contests, finish strong or simply survive.
Trump, leading handily in national polls, faced challenges from his competitors over his call to ban Muslim immigration to the United States and his threat to impose tariffs on China over trade disputes.
Cruz, leading or even with Trump in Iowa, where the first votes will be cast Feb. 1, was put on the defensive over his birth in Canada — which Trump said could disqualify him from the presidency — and about $1million in unreported loans to his 2012 Senate campaign.
With both front-runners facing attacks, those trailing in the polls also went on the offensive against each other. But all the candidates saved their harshest criticisms for President Obama and the Democrat who wants to succeed him, Hillary Clinton.
The Trump-Cruz standoff over Cruz’s birth in Canada highlighted the debate early on. Trump continued to question whether Cruz can be president because of it — an allegation most legal experts have refuted.
“The Constitution hasn’t changed, but the poll numbers have,” Cruz said; Trump admitted he raised the issue because Cruz is catching up in the polls.
Trump said lawyers have questioned Cruz’s eligibility, and he could be sued if he is nominated. Cruz, who has argued cases before the Supreme Court, replied, “I’m not going to be taking legal advice from Donald Trump.”
Two other candidates faring well in the polls also mixed it up during the feisty debate— Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey.
Rubio said Christie supported President Obama’s agenda on education and guns and even “wrote a check to Planned Parenthood” — charges Christie rejected. “This is the difference between being a governor and being a senator,” Christie said.
While focusing their fury at each other, the candidates also lashed out at Obama and his would-be Democratic successor, Hillary Clinton, in a debate that threatened to make or break some of their campaigns.
“Our friends no longer think we have their back, and our enemies no longer fear us,” former Florida governor Jeb Bush said. If Clinton is elected, he said, “she might be going back and forth between the White House and the courthouse.”
Trump and Cruz entered the debate in South Carolina, which votes Feb. 20, atop the polls in Iowa. As such, they both were targets of attacks from struggling challengers who have only weeks to make their case or face political extinction.
Chasing Trump and Cruz is Rubio, who has rung up endorsements from establishment Republicans while being portrayed as a flip-flopper on issues such as immigration. He consistently used his time to criticize Obama and Clinton harshly.
Also seeking a breakout performance were three moderates who have led big states: Bush, Christie and Gov. John Kasich of Ohio. Only one is likely to survive the early contests.
Bush again took on Trump over his call to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., arguing it would stop Arab nations from joining a coalition to defeat the Is- lamic State. “Sending that signal makes it impossible,” Bush said.
And Rubio was among several candidates who criticized Trump for threatening to impose tariffs on Chinese goods — tariffs that would be paid by American consumers, the Florida senator said.
The Fox Business Network debate had promised to be a crucial moment for Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon making his first run for elective office. Carson’s campaign has lagged amid a staff shake-up and troubles addressing complex policy issues. He appeared to do little Thursday to change that.
Even further behind were three candidates who faced off earlier Thursday: former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky refused to join that debate.