Republican debates I: Fiorina does best among also-ran candidates

If Google is any guide, businesswoman and political neophyte Carly Fiorina has come out best in the early debate for the seven candidates who missed the top 10 cut.

She was top in Google Trends’ search analysis and gained the lead headline on Google News.

A Wall Street Journal blogger says the former Hewlett Packard chief executive’s answers were detailed and she showed a good grasp of key issues.

Those included the economy, national security and foreign policy.

Other commentators talked a lot about her sharp words against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton during the debate.

Texas Senator Rick Perry also appeared to pick up steam as the debate wore on and he probably exceeded the low expectations that were set after his 2011 debate debacle.

Former Pennsylvani governor Rick Santorum probably offered the most detailed set of answers around expanding opportunities for working-class Americans by rebuilding the nation’s hollowed-out manufacturing base.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham made a heartfelt appeal for bipartisanship to tackle looming entitlement program insolvencies.

Mr Perry flicked at his state’s solid job growth during his third term as governor. Republicans were quick to blame regulations and President Obama’s signature health-care overhaul for a recovery that doesn’t feel as if it has been firing on all cylinders.

Perry, Fiorina on Iran nuclear deal
Mr Perry and Ms Fiorina came out swinging against the White House’s Iran nuclear deal.


Mr Perry says he would stop Iran from obtaining more than $US100 billion the country is expected to be able to access if it complies with the nuclear agreement, saying that money could be used for future terror attacks.


“The issue for us is to have a Congress that stands up and says not only no but hell no” for this money, he says.

Ms Fiorina says she would pledge US support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then tell Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamanei to open up all nuclear facilities to inspections or “we are going to make it as difficult for you as possible.” 


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