In their last debate before Tuesday’s important primary and caucus contests in Florida, Illinois, Missouri and Ohio, Republican presidential candidates split over a host of key issues, including worker visas, Social Security, Islam and foreign policy.
The focus of the debate was on substance instead of personal attacks. Front-runner Donald Trump, who described his lead in the race for the GOP nomination as insurmountable, took the brunt of the night’s attacks. But at one point, Trump even remarked about how civil the discussion was.
In a discussion about immigration and worker visas, both Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Trump agreed that The Walt Disney Co. might be skirting the intent of federal laws in its use of consulting firms and visas to employ foreign workers.
When Trump said he would improve the U.S. economy in order to bolster the flagging Social Security fund so he could leave benefits the same, his opponents suggested his plan was unrealistic. Both Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said younger workers should expect the retirement age to go up. Ohio Gov. John Kasich said he preferred to explore an innovative approach to keeping the fund solvent.
When Trump doubled down on comments he made this week that “Islam hates us,” Rubio said such statements create “a hostile environment.” Cruz added that the answer to the nation’s foreign policy concerns “is not simply to yell ‘China bad, Muslims bad.’”
Rubio is said to have staked the future of his campaign on Tuesday’s outcome in Florida, where he trails Trump in polls of likely GOP voters. Kasich has vowed to end his campaign if he doesn’t win in the Buckeye State.
Watch CNN for analysis and reaction to the debate.
Get complete coverage of breaking news on CNN TV, CNN.com and CNN Mobile.
----------------------------------------------
Watch CNN live or On Demand from your computer or mobile device.
Watch live CNN news coverage now at http://cnn.it/go
----------------------------------------------
You have opted-in to receive this e-mail from CNN.com. To unsubscribe from Breaking News e-mail alerts, go to: http://cnn.com/EMAIL/breakingnews/unsubscribe.html?l=domestic-adh-bn
One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303
(c) & (r) 2016 Cable News Network
No comments:
Post a Comment