SIMI VALLEY, Calif. – Along with the back-and-forth bickering over Donald Trump, the Republican primary took a substantive and serious turn in Wednesday’s prime-time debate, with candidates wrangling over Russia, Iran, immigration and gay marriage.
The policy focus marked a shift for a campaign that has so far revolved around the rise of Trump. The brash billionaire was still a target for the 10 other candidates joining him on stage, but the heavier policy focus had the effect of temporarily sidelining Trump after the debate’s opening moments.
For most of the participants, the shift appeared to come as a welcome relief.
The policy debates still exposed rifts within the Republican Party, particularly the split between political outsiders and candidates with long resumes in Washington and governor’s mansions. Trump and Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard executive and only woman in the GOP field, emphasized how their business backgrounds would help them negotiate with difficult world leaders, including Russia’s president.
“Vladimir Putin would get the message,” said Fiorina, who was joining the main debate for the first time after a strong performance in an undercard event last month.