Voters forum displays deep Republican bench

Though little substance came from the Voters First Presidential Forum for Republican candidates at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H., Monday night, several things were clear.

The GOP has a deep bench and, as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush pointed out, any of those who appeared on the stage would be "far better than any Democrat" running.

The forum, televised by C-SPAN and including every declared Republican candidate except Jim Gilmore, Mike Huckabee and Donald Trump, is a prelude to Thursday's Fox News debate to which only the top 10 candidates are invited.

Monday's event was not cast in the debate format and was more of a candidate introduction, though each participant was asked several questions on issues of the day. No candidate threw a haymaker at his or her fellow Republicans, and no one committed a serious gaffe.

But unlike Hillary Clinton, the scandal-ridden front-runner for the Democratic nomination who rarely takes questions while campaigning, the Republican candidates appeared engaged, energized, thoughtful, forthcoming and eager to put their plans into action.

Republican presidential candidates gather on stage before a forum Monday, Aug. 3, 2015, in Manchester, N.H. From left: Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, Bobby Jindal, John Kasich, George Pataki, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum and Scott Walker.

Here is a capsule of each candidate's presentation:

* Jeb Bush, former Florida governor: Thrusts - States should create their own high standards for students; the national economy can grow at 4 percent; he would take advice of the military on what to do against the Islamic State. Best line - "Protecting the homeland is the first duty of the president."

* Ben Carson, neurosurgeon and author: Thrusts - Replace Affordable Care Act before repealing it; defund Planned Parenthood; set tax rate at 10-15 percent with no deductions and no loopholes. Best line - "[I don't like Obamacare because it] flies in the face of what we are as a nation, a nation that is of, for and by the people."

* Ted Cruz, U.S. senator from Texas: Thrusts - Iran deal is "single gravest national security threat facing America"; will stand against career politicians; will make 2016 election referendum on Obamacare. Best line - "That freedom - that promise of America - is in jeopardy."

* Chris Christie, governor of New Jersey: Thrusts - Have a plan for entitlement reform; offer mandatory inpatient drug treatment for nonviolent prisoners who need it; veterans should be able to go to any hospital for treatment. Best line - "Our leaders are failing the American people."

* Carly Fiorina, former Hewlett-Packard executive: Thrusts - Challenge the status quo; invest in priorities; help people who truly need help. Best line - "We have to have a nominee who will throw every punch."

* Lindsey Graham, U.S. senator from South Carolina: Thrusts - "Clenched fist and open hand" trade policy; do "whatever it takes" to resist radical states; stop spending because country is "on the road to becoming Greece." Best line - "I'm fluent in Clinton-speak. I understand this crowd, and I can beat them."

* Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana: Thrusts - All benefit when you grow the economy; must cut budget and not just talk about slowing its growth; Iran agreement is a bad deal. Best line - "[Obama's] declared war on trans-fats and a cease-fire with the largest state-sanctioned sponsor of terrorism."

* John Kasich, governor of Ohio: Thrusts - Have free trade but fair trade; cut taxes and balance the budget; don't look only to cutting programs. Best line: "We don't have the right to live high on the hog and put the bills on our children."

* George Patacki, former governor of New York: Thrusts - Repeal Obamacare; federal government is biggest impediment to [economic] growth; lower taxes on manufacturers. Best line - "We can't bow down to radical Islam anywhere."

* Rand Paul, U.S. senator from Kentucky: Thrusts - Make all college debt deductible over career; collect information on terrorists but not citizens; war should only be the last resort. Best line - "I am a different kind of Republican."

* Rick Perry, former Texas governor: Thrusts - Renaissance in U.S. manufacturing; formulation of North American energy policy; secure the borders. Best line - "The American people don't trust Washington, D.C., to deal with this issue of immigration reform."

* Marco Rubio: U.S. senator from Florida: Thrusts - Illegal immigration won't be solved with one massive piece of legislation; rapidly changing country is making people insecure; would support medical marijuana if it clears U.S. Food and Drug Administration process. Best line - "We can leave for our children a new American century."

* Rick Santorum, former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania: Thrusts - Flat tax; incentivize manufacturing; America-first approach to immigration. Best line - "Democrats: All they want to do is give [people] money."

* Scott Walker, governor of Wisconsin: Thrusts - Clean Power Plan is a "buzz saw to the national economy"; balanced budget won't be achieved through cuts [and] austerity; reform the tax rates. Best line - "Sometimes people ask me what makes me different. Well, I've fought and I've won on the big issues. It's not too late for America."

Though Monday night's forum felt a little like speed dating, it nevertheless offered potential voters the knowledge that the Republican nominee a year from now will not be just another tax-and-spend liberal but a real-world problem-solver with conservative ideals.