There was no stand out candidate in the first debate of Republican candidates for the 2016 presidential election last night. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush remains the most likely candidate to receive the GOP’s nomination (by default), while Senator Marco Rubio from Florida put in a better than expected performance.
Rand Paul, the libertarian Senator from Kentucky, failed to impress, as did Senator Ted Cruz from Texas. But the first Fox News debate will be remembered for the grilling of Donald Trump. The billionaire businessman managed to shock the audience and his fellow candidates with outrageous comments that must surely slow his campaign.
For example, when asked if any of the candidates wouldn’t support the eventual nominee if they weren’t selected, Trump was the only candidate to raise his hand — to a round of booing from the crowd:
‘If I’m the nominee, I will pledge I will not run as an independent. But — and I am discussing it with everybody, but I’m, you know, talking about a lot of leverage.
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