Race for Iowa
Republicans Accuse Obama of Going Soft on Islamic State
Seven presidential candidates appear at an Iowa forum where the target was the Democratic incumbent, not each other.
Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, and Rand Paul participate in the Presidential Family Forum on Nov. 20, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Photographer: Scott Olson/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Seated at a table designed to look like Thanksgiving and reminiscent of the Last Supper, seven Republican presidential candidates gathered Friday for an Iowa forum where there were more fireworks from the audience than from a stage that lacked front-runner Donald Trump.
After quelling several outbursts from protesters—including one from a group at the front of the room carrying a large red banner opposing deportations—the candidates spent most of the evening agreeing with each other and condemning President Barack Obama in what was more conservative rally than debate.