Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and more tussle with each other as the field is narrowed and the podium positions shift to reflect who’s ahead in the polls
Reasearch:
Debate 1: August 6, 2015 – Cleveland, Ohio: Intro of Top 10, each gives a pithy few lines, then some action
The candidates in the main debate were Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie, and John Kasich; the moderators were Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly, and Chris Wallace.
In the primetime debate, frontrunner Donald Trump’s overall performance was criticized as rude and erratic by many pundits, while others said his comments were popular and his criticisms were overdue, including his criticism of Bush’s description of illegal immigration as an “act of love.” Cruz, Rubio, Christie, and Huckabee received praise. Notable conflicts between candidates included Rand Paul vs. Christie over the NSA surveillance program, Paul vs. Trump on the latter’s possible third-party run, Paul vs. Trump on healthcare, and Christie vs. Huckabee on the issue of welfare reform. Trump also clashed with two of the moderators – Kelly and Wallace – on the issue of sexism with Kelly, and the issue of illegal immigration with Wallace (specifically, Trump’s claims that the Mexican government was deliberately sending criminals into America illegally)
Debate 8: February 6, 2016 – Goffstown, New Hampshire
The eighth debate was held in New Hampshire, the first state to hold primaries, was organized by ABC News and the Independent Journal Review. It was scheduled to be held in the St Anselm’s College Institute of Politics.[134] The eighth debate was the first to not feature an undercard event for minor candidates.[135] David Muir and Martha Raddatz were moderaters, along with WMUR political director Josh McElveen and Mary Katherine Ham.[136]
On February 4, 2016, Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump were invited to the debate.[138] Carly Fiorina and Jim Gilmore were not invited as they did not meet the criteria.[139]
Final Debates: March 3, 2016 – Detroit, Michigan – Last Men Standing
The eleventh debate was held on March 3, 2016, at the Fox Theatre in downtown Detroit, Michigan.[153] It was the third debate to air on Fox News Channel.[154] Special Report anchor Bret Baier, The Kelly File anchor Megyn Kelly and Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace served as moderators.[155] It led into the Maine, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Idaho, and Hawaii contests. Fox announced that in order for candidates to qualify, they must have at least 3 percent support in the five most recent national polls by March 1 at 5 pm.[156] Ben Carson said on March 2 he would not be attending the debate.[157][158][159] The debate drew controversy for an allusion Trump made to his penis in response to Rubio’s comment about the size of his hands
