Cooper: GOP debate finally all business

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Book Release Party

A party held for the "Life-Onomics" wealth/stress management book release at Crowne Plaza in Little Rock, November 15.

Although 2016 Republican presidential candidates must continue to differentiate themselves from their rivals on the road and in various debates, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton should be their main target.

And, despite mainstream reporting to the contrary, she was that target for the most part in Tuesday's Fox Business Network debate among the top eight GOP candidates.

The debate, and its undercard of four lower-tier candidates, was perhaps the most substantive of the party's four such clashes to date. Whether it will change the polling remains to be seen, but the format's emphasis on the economy offered a more nuanced look at the candidates.

Here's one view of where the evening left the candidates:

MOVING FORWARD

Chris Christie: The New Jersey governor was the top undercard performer with the evening's sharpest focus on Clinton. Although he couldn't refute Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's statistics about some not-so-conservative numbers in his largely Democratic state, he didn't take the bait, looked directly into the camera and drew contrasts to a potential Clinton administration as being worse than the current Obama administration.

Ted Cruz: The Texas senator is likely to pick up a significant amount of whatever support businessman Donald Trump might lose. His line about finding it offensive that he can't both "embrace legal immigration and the rule of law" was one of the best of the night. He - in garnering more minutes of talk time than anyone else - also laid out a flat-tax policy and was specific in saying he'd eliminate the departments of Commerce, Energy and Housing and Urban Development.

Rand Paul: The Kentucky senator moved off his recent stuck status but is unlikely to ignite a firestorm. With more time to talk, he was able to discuss his flat tax plan, defend being a fiscal conservative against a Marco Rubio child care tax credit expansion and endorse an all-of-the-above energy policy, but his military isolationist views continue to make him seem out of step in an angry world.

Marco Rubio: The Florida senator is looking more and more like the top contender if outsiders Trump and Dr. Ben Carson fade. With a longer global view than other candidates, he brings up issues like the country's "highest business tax in the industrialized world," its "outdated education system" and the importance of vocational education but still displays strength on the need for a strong military, a better health care system and regulatory reform.

STAYING IN PLACE

Jeb Bush: The former Florida governor, with another debate behind him, is still looking for his moment. Friendly, competent and even wonkish, he's finding little support in walking a line between being a conservative and moderate. He's got a plan for tax reform and economic growth, is right about the damage of the Dodd-Frank banking law and understands Islamic terrorism is a threat, but his desire for immigration reform still doesn't play well with voters.

Ben Carson: The former pediatric neurosurgeon is now the front-runner in several polls, and his calm demeanor and answers about not being afraid to be vetted, about Clinton's now-exposed Benghazi lie and the damage of overregulation will play well to his supporters. But a lack of specifics about his economic plan and his Middle East policy may be worrisome to voters beginning to focus on issues.

Carly Fiorina: The business executive continues to have excellent debates but is gaining little traction. Her continued presses on the excesses of big government, the crony capitalism of Obamacare, the suggestion of zero-based budgeting for the federal government and the country's weakness in the Middle East all resonate, but is it too much "inside baseball" for voters? Perhaps her continued insistence she would best go toe to toe with Clinton will catch on.

Donald Trump: The businessman continued to play to his supporters with talk about a wall on the Southern border, the fact the U.S. doesn't "win any more" and about making the country "greater than it's ever been," but bluster and potshots - "You're lucky in Ohio that you struck oil" and "I don't have to hear from this man" (both to Ohio Gov. John Kasich) - will only get him so far before voters demand more.

MOVING BACKWARD

John Kasich: The Ohio governor in early debates attempted to position himself as the only adult in the room, a moderate conservative among far right conservatives. But his continued interruptions, insistence on speaking time, list of Ohio accomplishments and scolding of other candidates has worn thin. Clearly experienced, he's not likely to move up until he finds warmth, personal stories and a better connection with the electorate.

HONORABLE MENTION: In addition to Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Jindal and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum made the all-economic policy undercard debate a substantive delight.