Low-polling GOP presidential candidates talk taxes, jobs in undercard debate
During the first of two Republican presidential debates hosted by Fox Business Network on Tuesday in Milwaukee, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal fielded questions about taxes, jobs, and business, while getting in a few jabs against each other and Hillary Clinton.
It was the first time Christie and Huckabee appeared at an undercard debate; they were bumped down from the primetime stage after failing to reach the 2.5 percent threshold in national polls.
When asked about taxes, Santorum said he supports a 20 percent flat tax, adding "I think that's a fair number." Huckabee said he would like to abolish the IRS.
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Christie said he would fight back against cyberwarfare waged by China, and would fly over the islands being built by the country in the South China Sea so "they'll know we mean business."
Each candidate was asked which Democratic member of Congress they most admire, but Jindal, Huckabee, and Christie demurred; only Santorum responded, saying he respects the party because "they fight, they're not willing to back down and are willing to stand up and win."
Jindal got in several jabs against his fellow governors, calling out Huckabee for spending too much and Christie for attempting to be a conservative in a blue state. "I'll give you a ribbon for participation and a juice box but in the real world it's about results," he said. Christie used every opportunity to go after Clinton, saying the Democratic presidential candidate is "coming for your wallet" and is afraid to debate him. "Hillary Clinton doesn't want one minute on that stage with me next September when I'm debating her and prosecuting her for her vision for America," he said.
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Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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