Presidential hopefuls (from left) Marco Rubio, Donald Trump and Ben Carson during the CNBC Republican presidential debate at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado, on Wednesday. — AFP
Republican frontrunners Donald Trump and Ben Carson were accused of peddling “fantasy” economic policies at their party’s presidential debate on Wednesday, as less-known rivals managed to grab campaign limelight.
Upstart Senator Marco Rubio caused a stir at the third Republican primary debate, fighting off a frontal attack from his one-time ally Jeb Bush, then calling the presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton a liar.
The 10 White House candidates on stage were quick with the personal barbs, sign of the rising tension between the country’s established politicians and political neophytes Mr Trump and Mr Carson, who top the polls less than 100 days before the first statewide nominating contests.
“Folks, we got to wake up,” said Ohio governor John Kasich, raising an alarm at the outset.
“We cannot elect somebody that doesn’t know how to do the job. You have to pick somebody who has experience.”
The language appeared clearly aimed at Mr Trump, a real estate billionaire, and the retired neurosurgeon Mr Carson, who were the targets of early brickbats as candidates ripped into their policy plans.
Mr Kasich said the tax plans of both were “fantasy tax games” that would add trillions of dollars to the national debt.
Even the debate moderator joined in, asking Mr Trump if he was running a “comic book version” of a campaign — notably by promising to keep out immigrants with a wall on the Mexican border.
Millions of Americans were estimated to be tuning in to the sparring at an arena at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
As traditional candidates struggle to make headway against strong populist currents in their party, Mr Carson appears to be catching up to Mr Trump, overtaking him in the state of Iowa and edging ahead of him in one national poll released on Tuesday.
With his star rising, Mr Carson came under pressure to expand on his political platforms.
And the hyper-competitive Mr Trump — facing a slippage in his poll ratings — seemed determined to reaffirm his position atop the Republican pyramid.
Mr Trump reiterated his stance on gun control, saying that “gun-free zones are a feeding frenzy for sickos”.
Mr Rubio fought off the challenge, and later drew applause when he skewered Ms Clinton for her testimony about the 2012 Benghazi attacks.
CNBC came under assault for its provocative questioning of candidates, several of whom called out the network for its lines of attack.
