Republican Debate Turns Ugly Over Foreign Policy, Bush, Borders

Candidates press Obama not to replace Scalia on Supreme Court
Trump, five others debate ahead of South Carolina primary

Republican presidential candidates Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump participate in a CBS News debate on Feb. 13, 2016, at the Peace Center in Greenville, South Carolina.
Photographer: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

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By John McCormick

February 14, 2016 at 2:17 AM UTC

Updated on

February 14, 2016 at 4:01 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Debating in the shadow of the death of conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a downsized and more combative Republican presidential field battled in South Carolina over foreign policy, abortion, truthfulness, campaign tactics and blame for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The ninth debate featured just six candidates, including an even louder than usual Donald Trump, who blamed former President George W. Bush for the 9/11 attack, a not-so-indirect hit at the candidacy of former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.