GOP Takes On Donald Trump
Cleveland (CNN)There were 17 Republican candidates here tonight, but the first GOP presidential debate of the 2016 season overwhelmingly revolved around one man: Donald Trump.
The billionaire real estate mogul delivered an unforgettably explosive performance Thursday night. He repeatedly attacked his rivals on stage, jousted with the moderators, drew jeers and laughter from the audience with his typically colorful language and, true to form, refused to apologize for anything.
The nine candidates flanking Trump at the prime-time debate appeared emboldened at times by Trump's bluster and, at other moments, amused by the conduct of the GOP's current frontrunner. Meanwhile, the three moderators faced a difficult task: no matter how hard they tried to corner Trump on his inconsistencies and vulnerabilities, the businessman never gave an inch.
The challenge for all of Trump's competition during the two-hour debate hosted by Fox News was to step out of Trump's shadow. The stakes were particularly high for former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has been trailing Trump in the national polls and has suffered a series of missteps in recent weeks. Bush had an even performance, giving solid answers on his weak spots: immigration and Common Core.
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