GOP debate takes a substantive turn with more discussion of issues

Along with the back-and-forth bickering over Donald Trump, the Republican presidential contest took a substantive and serious turn in Wednesday’s prime-time debate as candidates wrangled over immigration, gay marriage and foreign affairs.

The policy shift quieted Trump, the brash billionaire who has roiled the GOP field, for long stretches during the three-hour debate and appeared to come as a relief to other candidates who have struggled to break through.

Carly Fiorina, the only woman in the GOP field, was one of the main benefactors, launching an emotional plea for defunding Planned Parenthood, touting her experience in business and taking aim at Trump for his derogatory comments about her appearance.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who came into the debate facing questions about whether he had the grit to take on Trump, also engaged the real estate mogul directly while still trying to fulfill his promise to run a joyful campaign.

In one exchange that typified the broader battle within the Republican Party, Bush and Trump clashed over the influence of big-money donors who have helped the former Florida governor raise more than $100 million. Trump, who is largely financing his own campaign, said of campaign contributors: “I understand the game. I’ve been on the other side my entire life, and they have a lot of control over our politicians.”

At another point, Bush pressed Trump to apologize for his comments about Bush’s Mexican-born wife. Trump refused and called Bush “weak on immigration.”

Trump’s unexpected rise and surprising durability are seen as a reflection of voters’ frustration with Washington and career politicians. As the son and brother of presidents, Bush, more than any other candidate, is viewed as a representative of the status quo.

Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard executive, is also seeking to capitalize on her outsider status. She was making her first appearance on the main debate stage after a standout performance in an undercard event last month.

Fiorina emphasized how her business background would help her negotiate with difficult world leaders, including Russia’s president.

“Vladimir Putin would get the message,” she said.

A third outsider — soft-spoken retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson — entered the debate with high expectations after a recent rise in the polls that determine debate participation. But he largely faded to the background on the crowded stage.

Even in a lengthy debate that lasted almost three hours, the 11-candidate field limited the time that each participant had to make his case to the American people.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio sought to take advantage of his moments, reminding voters about his compelling personal story, including his parents’ move to the U.S. from Cuba. He also argued that he was most qualified to be commander in chief in a turbulent world.

“You’d better be able to lead our country on the first day, not six months from now, not a year from now, on the first day in office,” he said.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie also tried to capitalize on his limited time, saying that while he was entertained as Trump and Fiorina tried to one-up each other with their business records, “for the 55-year-old construction worker out in that audience tonight who doesn’t have a job, who can’t fund his child’s education — I gotta tell you the truth — they could care less about your careers.”

Perhaps more than any other candidate, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker entered the debate needing a breakout performance. He spoke vigorously about his conservative record as governor but still struggled for attention.

Disagreement on Iran

On foreign policy, the candidates were split on whether they would tear up President Barack Obama’s nuclear accord if elected. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz argued for walking away from the deal even though it was negotiated alongside allies.

Cruz, largely overshadowed in the early portions of the debate, trashed the deal as dangerous and vowed to “rip it up” on his first day in office.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott applauded Cruz’s comments on Twitter, saying, “Wow. @TedCruz just kicked Iran’s ass. Americans need to rise up against this dangerous deal.”

Ohio Gov. John Kasich took a measured approach, saying anyone who wants to rip up the deal isn’t prepared to be president.

In an exchange on gay marriage and religious liberty, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee argued forcefully for the right of Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis to defy the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing gay marriage. “I thought that everyone here passed ninth-grade civics. The courts can’t legislate,” he said. “I thought we had three branches of government.”

Still, Huckabee declined to criticize Bush for saying Davis did not have the right to deny marriage licenses to gays. Bush said he supports defending the rights of religious people to refuse to endorse gay marriage, but he said someone else in Davis’ office should sign the certificates since the Supreme Court ruling is the law of the land.

“I think there needs to be accommodation for someone acting on their faith,” he said.

Even as Trump faded somewhat in the policy discussions, he was hardly invisible. He praised himself while deriding his rivals in the opening minutes of the debate at the Reagan Presidential Library in Southern California.

Standing at center stage, Trump said he had a “phenomenal temperament” and a record in business that would help him on the world stage. With his signature brashness, he immediately took on his rivals, saying Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a vigorous critic, didn’t deserve to be on the crowded debate stage.

Trump has become increasingly critical of Fiorina as her standing has risen. He was quoted in a recent interview making derogatory comments about her looks, though he later denied that he was referring to her appearance.

Asked about Trump’s comments, Fiorina said simply, “I think women all over this country heard very clearly what Mr. Trump said.”

Cruz on Supreme Court

Cruz said it was a mistake for him to support the nomination of Chief Justice John Roberts to the Supreme Court.

Cruz made the admission at the second Republican presidential debate. He was criticizing the record of the Bush family in nominating justices like Roberts. The chief justice has drawn conservative ire for two votes that upheld Obama’s health overhaul.

Jeb Bush pointed out that Cruz had backed Roberts. He said the problem was that the nomination process has become so politicized that presidents put forward people like Roberts who have limited judicial track records.

Bush said, “We need to make sure that we have justices with a proven, experienced record of respect for upholding the Constitution.”

Roberts was nominated by Jeb Bush’s brother, President George W. Bush. Cruz also cited former Justice David Souter, nominated by Jeb Bush’s father, President George H.W. Bush.

Staff writer John Gravois contributed to this report.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 7:19 PM with the headline "GOP debate takes a substantive turn with more discussion of issues."