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With 2016 in plain sight and only weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses, GOP presidential candidates came to Las Vegas, NV, on Tuesday night for their fifth and final debate of the year.
Hosted by CNN, Facebook, and Salem Radio, and moderated by Wolf Blitzer, Dana Bash, and Hugh Hewitt, the evening was divided into two events to accommodate the wide field. A 6 p.m. debate featured four low-polling candidates: former governor Mike Huckabee (AR), former senator Rick Santorum (PA), Senator Lindsey Graham (SC), and former governor George Pataki (NY).
The 8:30 p.m. prime time debate featuring the nine top-polling contenders: Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz (TX), Dr. Ben Carson, Senator Marco Rubio (FL), former governor Jeb Bush (FL), Carly Fiorina, Governor Chris Christie (NJ), Senator Rand Paul (KY), and Governor John Kasich (OH). These candidates polled at least 3.5% nationally, or at least 4% in Iowa or in New Hampshire from October 29 to December 13 in polls recognized by CNN.
So how exactly did it go? Some quick thoughts from across AEI:
Michael Barone:
Karlyn Bowman:
Timothy Carney:
Mackenzie Eaglen:
How did the GOP end 2015? Some thoughts from AEI scholars here.
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