Long Shadow of Donald Trump Dominates Debate He Missed
SIMI VALLEY, CA - SEPTEMBER. 16: Republican presidential candidates, (L-R) George Pataki, Rick Santorum, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) stand onstage during the presidential debates at the Reagan Library on September 16, 2015 in Simi Valley, California. Fifteen Republican presidential candidates are participating in the second set of Republican presidential debates. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesThe four candidates who faced off in the "undercard" Republican presidential debate Wednesday in California have 70 years of elected experience among them, including 24 years in the Senate and 19 years in governor’s offices. Yet a candidate with no time in office, and who wasn’t even in the room, dominated the top of the 90-minute debate.
Donald Trump, the billionaire real-estate developer from New York, drew stinging attacks from Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and former New York Governor George Pataki. Former Senator Rick Santorum urged the other candidates to refrain from criticizing Trump, and Senator Lindsey Graham, after initially avoiding a mention of Trump, finally got in a swipe of his own. The four, whose low polling numbers put them in the non-prime time event as CNN hosted the 15-member Republican presidential field in two stages, had spirited exchanges over immigration and border security, and religious freedom at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library in Simi Valley, California.