Garrett: Trump ‘Was More Mild Card than Wild Card,’ Except on ‘Political Correctness’
[excerpt]
ROSE: “The gloves are off in the Republican presidential race. The 10 leading candidates met list night in their first prime-time debate. It was their best chance so far, to sell themselves to GOP voters. There were many fiery exchanges, much of the heat centered on Donald Trump.”
O’DONNELL: “The GOP frontrunner got more air time than anyone else, and had a lot to say about his critics. Major Garrett is at the debate site in Cleveland. Major, good morning. It was quiet tonight.”
GARRETT: “It was. Good morning. Donald Trump was more mild card than wild card except, of course, when he discussed political correctness. Jeb Bush played it safe. Governors John Kasich, Scott Walker, Chris Christie press the issues, everyone tried to look presidential and true to his word Rand Paul mixed it up.”
[clip starts]
GARRETT (voice-over): “It started with a question only Donald Trump had to answer would he promise not to run as a third party candidate if he doesn’t win the Republican nomination.”
BAIER: “You can’t say tonight that you can make that pledge.”
TRUMP: “I cannot say.”
GARRETT (voice-over): “And the sparing begin.”
PAUL “He’s already hedging his bet on the Clintons, OK. If he doesn't run as a Republican maybe he supports Clinton or maybe runs as an independent.”
GARRETT (voice-over): “Trump had to defend previous support for Democrats, abortion rights and European style single payer health care system.”
TRUMP: “I've evolved on many issues over the years. And you know who else has? It's Ronald Reagan -- evolved on many issues.”
PAUL: “Newsflash - the Republican Party has been fighting against a single payer health system for a decade.”
TRUMP: “I don't think you heard me. You’re having a hard time tonight.”
[clip ends]
GARRETT: “The earlier debate relegated 7 Republicans with poll numbers in the low single digits to a MT Arena and a much smaller TV audience. But former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina made the most of it driving the conversation on social media and Charlie, winning some praise during the prime time main event.”
