Thread: Fox News announces candidate line-up for prime-time debate

Fox News announces candidate line-up for prime-time debate

Published August 04, 2015 FoxNews.com



NOW PLAYINGThe first GOP presidential primary debate is on Fox News
Fox News has announced the line-up for the prime-time Republican presidential debate this Thursday, and here's who qualified:
Real estate magnate Donald Trump; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson; former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee; Texas Sen. Ted Cruz; Florida Sen. Marco Rubio; Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

The roster of 10 candidates was determined based on an average of the five most recent national polls. Trump as expected made the cut, as did Bush and Walker, who have each posted strong numbers in recent surveys.

The drama, rather, was at the edge of the top 10. Christie and Kasich, who were hovering by that edge in recent polling, were able to qualify.

But former Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, among others, will not be on the prime-time, 9 p.m. ET stage. The seven who did not make the top 10 will be invited to a separate 5 p.m. ET debate.

The debates, hosted by Fox News and Facebook in conjunction with the Ohio Republican Party, will be held at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.

With the campaign lately being rocked by Trump's rise in the polls above the jam-packed field, though, the big question is how the other nine candidates will hold their own on the prime-time stage -- and whether Trump will remain the front-runner after his debate debut.

For political outsiders like Trump and Carson, Democratic strategist Doug Schoen said, "The question is are they ready, literally and metaphorically, for prime-time?"

The debate will test whether they can articulate a "cogent narrative of what they'll do to promote and provoke change in our country," Schoen said.

Analysts have warned that Trump, whose bomb-throwing persona has seemingly fueled his climb, stands to lose traction if he can't command the stage.

Steve Deace, who hosts a conservative radio talk show in the Hawkeye State, said: "His entire campaign is based on him being a blunt instrument" and if he holds back, "that would be the death knell for him."

Plenty of candidates are eager to seize the spotlight from him, no matter which debate stage they're on. Ahead of the debates, Bush on Monday outlined his plan for improving border security and immigration enforcement.

Tough-talking Gov. Christie last week vowed to enforce marijuana laws if elected president, and tangled over the weekend with the teachers unions after saying on CNN they deserve a "punch in the face."

Paul on Tuesday introduced an amendment to crack down on "sanctuary cities" by requiring local officials to notify the feds about the arrest of an illegal immigrant.

Trump, meanwhile, has continued to climb in the polls despite attracting the ire of fellow Republicans for recently questioning Sen. John McCain's war record.

In the latest Fox News poll, Trump got the support of 26 percent of primary voters -- the highest level of support for any candidate so far and up from 18 percent in mid-July.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015...e-time-debate/

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TIME FOR A BREAK-OUT MOMENT

7 GOP hopefuls look to spring from pack in 1st of 2 Fox News debates


CAMPAIGN 2016: WATCH NOW the first of two Fox News debates among seven Republican presidential candidates from Cleveland, Ohio. The second debate among 10 Republican candidates begins at 9 p.m. ET. You can participate in live discussion by going to Facebook.com/Foxnews, and watch live analysis on FoxNews.com immediately after each debate.

• COMPLETE FOX NEWS DEBATE COVERAGE
• Do the big night right: Debate watchers' guide | DEMOCRATS' TURN: Party schedules 6 primary debates
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GOP underdogs hit stage looking for big breakout in first debate

Published August 06, 2015 FoxNews.com



NOW PLAYINGDay of debate: Do candidates cram or relax?

Republican primary underdogs took to the Fox News debate stage Thursday afternoon in Cleveland hoping to break out of the pack and onto a faster track in the polls.

The seven candidates on the 5 p.m. stage -- who did not qualify for the upcoming prime-time debate -- are nevertheless well-positioned to make their case to voters for a second look, without having to contend with Donald Trump and others.

"An underdog is going to emerge from this first debate," Craig Shirley, a conservative strategist and Reagan biographer, said.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was on the big stage less than four years ago as a primary candidate, joins Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former New York Gov. George Pataki , former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, former White House candidate and Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina for what has been dubbed the "happy hour" debate.

Perry, who saw his presidential aspirations fizzle in 2012 after his infamous "oops" debate moment, is looking for redemption Thursday. Every candidate on stage, analysts say, has an opportunity for a genuine break-out moment to distinguish themselves.

“I think the first debate is not going to get as much attention but it might surprise everybody and be the most issue-oriented,” said Shirley. “The way to distinguish yourself is not be personal, but be the most credible, populist, conservative and anti-establishment (candidate).”

Next up is the prime-time debate at 9 p.m. ET, with the 10 top-polling candidates, based on their showing in the last five national polls. Perry almost made the cut, but now leads the second group with an average of 1.8 percent among the latest polls on Real Clear Politics.

The “second tier” candidate today could be one of the last ones standing tomorrow, as the primary promises to heat up and there is no runaway front-runner. Trump, who has dominated the headlines and is leading in the polls, still has less than 25 percent of the vote in most surveys. “This is without a doubt the most fluid Republican presidential nomination probably in the history of the party,” Shirley said.

Both debates are hosted by Fox News and Facebook in conjunction with the Ohio Republican Party.

TIME FOR A BREAK-OUT MOMENT

Did William or anyone else here submit a question through Facebook for Trump asking him to put Americans FIRST & follow & enforce our EXISTING immigration laws? Also tactfully ask about reducing legal immigration to put AMERICANS first! Even if you reduce legal immigration you'll still have several hundred thousand coming in legally EVERY YEAR!

I'm not on Facebook so I'm asking you guys.

Candidates take aim at Trump, Clinton in 'happy hour' debate

Ledyard King, USATODAY6:04 p.m. EDT August 6, 2015


(Photo: Andrew Harnik, AP)

CLEVELAND – Excluded from the main event, GOP candidates participating in the undercard debate Thursday came out swinging against current front-runner Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton, while generally holding their fire against one another.

Former Texas governor Rick Perry contrasted Trump’s tough talk on immigration control to his own record, where he deployed the National Guard to stem the tide of illegal immigrants.

“We need a president that doesn’t just talk a game, but a president that’s got real results,” he said when asked about the billionaire real estate developer.

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina took a shot at Trump as well. While she conceded he “had tapped into an anger that people feel,” she suggested his shifting positions on key issues made him untrustworthy.

“Since he has changed his mind (immigration) amnesty on health care and on abortion, I would just ask him what are the principles by which he will govern?” she said.

Perry and Fiorina were among the seven candidates appearing in what’s been described as the “happy hour” debate featuring GOP hopefuls who failed to make the cut for the prime-time event.



ONPOLITICS
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Sharing the stage with them were former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former New York governor George Pataki and former senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.

The seven had little to lose as they tried to pump up their poll numbers to muscle their way into the next GOP debate, at the Ronald Reagan Library on Sept. 16 in Simi Valley, Calif.



USA TODAY
GOP 2016 hopefuls gather for first debate

Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, was not surprisingly a target at times.

“To all the Americans who want a better life, don’t vote for Hillary Clinton," Graham said. "You’re not going to get it. She’s not going to repeal Obamacare and replace it, I will. .. Until you change the policies of Barack Obama, we’re never going to grow this economy ... or be safe. She represents a third of a failed presidency.”

Ohio Gov. John Kasich, one of the participants in the prime-time debate, took some fire as well.

Asked what they thought of Kasich’s decision to expand Medicaid in Ohio as part of the Affordable Care Act, both Pataki and Jindal said they would not support such a step in their states.

“We’re going to have to many people in the cart rather than pulling the cart. I don’t think anybody should be expanding Medicaid,” Jindal said. “I think it’s a mistake to create new and more expensive entitlement program when we can’t afford the ones we’ve got today.”

Candidates early on also made the case for their electability and credentials. Perry said he’s ready to be president four years after his campaign imploded.

“I think Americans want someone (with) a track record to get this country back on track,” he said. “I will assure you, …I’m ready to be that individual.”

Graham tried to emphasize his national security credentials, saying the elimination of the Islamic State would be one of his top priorities.

“If you’re running for president of the United States and you don’t understand that we need American ground forces in Iraq … then you’re not ready to be commander in chief, then you’re not serious about destroying (the Islamic State),” he said.

Before the debate even started, some of the participants blasted the rules established by Fox News restricting participation based on national polls.

Santorum, who won 11 states running against Mitt Romney for the GOP nomination in 2012, called the decision to hold two debates "an insult to voters."

"It denies them the opportunity to really see all the folks who can actually be president," Santorum told NBC Wednesday. "I guarantee you, somebody at the first debate is going to end up getting some delegates in this election."

The 10 who will compete in the prime-time debate airing on Fox News Channel at 9 p.m. ET were chosen based on an aggregate of polls Fox used to determine the field. Similar models are expected to be used for upcoming GOP debates.



ONPOLITICS
Report: Frontrunners (i.e. Trump) get more air time at debates

That meant Trump's two chief antagonists, Perry and Graham, would not be on the same stage with the front-runner Thursday night.

Aaron Kall, director of the University of Michigan's Debate Program and Debate Institute, said Thursday's opening round should offer a glimpse of what themes and questions could bubble up in the prime-time affair. And, he said it will encourage participants to be aggressive and confrontational as they try to climb into the top 10 for future debates.

"There's a high reward factor and not much to lose," Kall said.

"You could have the first slate of candidates attacking people that aren't on stage to defend themselves. There's probably greater incentive to be harsh because there's not going to be any return fire."
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...land/31219063/

WATCH THE 2ND REPUBLICAN DEBATE AMONG 10 PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AT 9 PM ET ON FOX NEWS; YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN LIVE DISCUSSION AT FACEBOOK.COM/FOXNEWS, AND WATCH LIVE ANALYSIS ON FOXNEWS.COM NOW

LIGHTNING ROD: Sparks fly over a Trump refusal in first minutes of Fox News' Republican debate

CAMPAIGN 2016: THE TOP CANDIDATES for the Republican nomination for president take the stage in Cleveland, Ohio, for the second of two debates sponsored by Fox News — and sparks immediately fly over Donald Trump's refusal to pledge he'd back GOP's nominee.

Watch the debate live on Fox News Channel — and join the live discussion on Facebook.com/Foxnews.

It was very clear that ‪#‎FoxNews‬ was out to set Donald ‪#‎Trump‬ up with loaded questions and a stocked panel at the end. The ‪#‎DonaldTrump‬ line about Rosie O'donnell was the funniest part of this debate! Im not backing and ‪#‎Presidential‬ candidate at this time, but Megan Kelly's behavior was disgusting, rude, and highly unprofessional but Donald J. Trump handled her venom with great agility and humor! ‪#‎GOPdebate‬

http://www.alipac.us/f9/who-won-firs...debate-321892/