Donald Trump shocked by civil GOP debate
After close to a dozen circus-like brawls that masqueraded as Republican debates over the last six months, Thursday's debate took such a subdued tone that it shocked the party's front-runner.
"So far, I cannot believe how civil it's been up here," Donald Trump said more than a half hour into the CNN debate in Miami.
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Unlike the last debate — in which Trump talked about his dick in the opening minutes and brawled with the rest of the GOP — this one began focused on substance and policy, with few fights between the candidates.
It wasn't until 40 minutes into the two-hour debate that the candidates even started addressing one another directly, with Ted Cruz going after Trump over trade.
"He's right about the problems. But his solutions don't work," Cruz said, knocking Trump's calls for tariffs. "
"Our country and our trade and our deals, and most importantly our jobs are going to hell," Trump responded.
Trump used his opening statement to call for the party to unite behind him, they needed to get on board to help win.
"One of the biggest political events anywhere in the world is happening right now with the Republican Party," he said, arguing his backers are flocking to him and the party "out of love."
"It's very exciting. I think, frankly, the Republican establishment, or whatever you want to call it, should embrace what's happening. We're having millions of extra people join. We are going to beat the Democrats," he argued.
The comments came minutes after Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus took to the stage and promised that the party will do exactly that.
"This party is going to support the nominee 100%," he promised, pushing back on public calls from some prominent Republican and conservative strategists in the #NeverTrump movement and elsewhere to abandon Trump if he's the nominee.
Many top Republicans are terrified that a split party could hurt both the nominee and down-ticket candidates for Senate, House and other offices.
The first quarter of the GOP debate was surprisingly low-key and policy-focused after the
"I cannot believe how civil it's been up here."
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Topics Donald Trump Elections
Cameron Joseph is Mashable’s Senior Politics Reporter, covering the 2016 presidential race. He has previously covered presidential and congressional races, the White House and Congress for the New York Daily News, The Hill and National Journal. He is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College, a contributor to the Almanac of American Politics, a music junkie, a Chicago native, and a long-suffering Cubs fan. Follow him on Twitter @cam_joseph.
