Republican debates III: Trump still holds the cards

Donald Trump has emerged from the first major televised debate among the top 10 Republican candidates for the presidential nomination still holding the best hand.

He talked the most, heading off Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee and Chris Christie in speaking time, while also providing plenty of headline material.

Among them was refusing to promise not to run against the eventual party nominee if he doesn’t clinch the nomination, repeating his remarks on illegal immigrants from Mexico and calling Republican political leaders “stupid.”

That wouldn't disappoint his supporters but his refusal to back the winning candidate could lose him votes among Republican loyalists.

A consensus of views shows Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and John Kasich all did well and should raise their polling positions, while Ted Cruz was considered the biggest loser.

Mr Trump also scores most of the highlights in the second half of the two-hour debate:

Trump on Iran
No one had a kind word to say on President Obama's nuclear deal with Iran in either of the two debates but Mr Trump sees it as a business oportunity.

He says the Iranian economy is going to soar because of the nuclear agreement, something he says will destabilise the world.

“If Iran was a stock, you guys should go out and buy it right now because you would quadruple,” he says.

Trump ‘evolves’ his positions
Offering a broad explanation for his past support of Democrats and Democratic positions, he says, “I’ve evolved on many issues over the years,” adding that Ronald Reagan also evolved over time.

On abortion, he says he had friends who planned to have an abortion. In the end, they gave birth to the baby and Mr Trump says, the child is a “superstar.”

He says he hates the concept of abortion and now opposes it.

Who cares about Atlantic City?
Mr Trump pours salt on the wounds of troubled Atlantic City, the seaside resort where four casinos have gone bust in the past year.

Hundreds of New Jersey workers have lost their jobs since a wave of casinos closed while faced with increased competition in the region. Mr Trump’s property there, the Trump Taj Mahal, is in bankruptcy.

He says it was smart to move his business from the city.

“I had the good sense to leave Atlantic City,” he says. “I made a lot of money in Atlantic City and I’m very proud of it.”

It’s still the economy, stupid
Mr Bush is questioned about his pledge to create 4% economic growth, a level the US hasn’t witnessed since the late 1990s.

He says he delivered above-average annual economic growth, during his time as governor of Florida 1999-2007.

“Our economy grew at double the rate of the nation,” he says.

Talking tax policies
Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson both say they will reduce the size of government by moving to a single-rate, flat-tax system but there’s little discussion about how moving to a more regressive tax code will allow the government to reduce spending.

Bush on war in Iraq
Mr Bush is asked: Knowing what we know now, would you have invaded Iraq? His carefully prepared response is a contrast to his struggles to answer that question earlier this year.

“Knowing what we know now with faulty intelligence … it was a mistake,” he says. “I wouldn’t have gone in.”

Mr Bush says President Obama abandoned Iraq and ISIS was created because of the void the US left. To honour those who died in Iraq, the US now needs to take out ISIS with every tool at our disposal, he said.

National Security Agency
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie went toe-to-toe over how best to defend Americans against terror attacks.

Mr Christie says Mr Paul’s opposition to expanded National Security Agency powers puts the American people at risk and that the NSA’s surveillance powers have helped prevent attacks.

Mr Paul says the government should focus more attention on tracking terrorists and not “innocent Americans.” Mr Christie shoots back: “That’s a completely ridiculous answer” and accuses Mr Paul of “blowing hot air” when in Congress.

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