The Republican race for the party’s 2016 presidential nomination erupted into a four-candidate crossfire on Wednesday over who has the proper experience and is the most conservative, days before South
The Republican race for the party’s 2016 presidential nomination erupted into a four-candidate crossfire on Wednesday over who has the proper experience and is the most conservative, days before South Carolina voters put their stamp on the campaign.
In TV interviews and campaign events, front-runner Donald Trump threatened to sue Senator Ted Cruz of Texas over a negative TV ad, while Senator Marco Rubio of Florida accused Mr Cruz of lying about his record, and former Florida governor Jeb Bush questioned Mr Rubio’s experience to serve as President.
Amid the squabbling, South Carolina governor Nikki Haley endorsed Mr Rubio as the Republicans’ best hope for winning the White House, a boost to Mr Rubio and a blow to Mr Bush, who had lobbied hard for her to pick him. The endorsement gave Mr Rubio, 44, a valuable ally to try to sway voters ahead of Saturday’s South Carolina Republican primary.
Mr Bush had a tough day, learning of Ms Haley’s endorsement right before a town hall meeting, where four members of the audience second-guessed his campaign strategy and offered tips on how to have a greater impact in the state.
Meanwhile, voicing concern over the Obama administration’s historic decision to draft women into military combat, leading Republican presidential candidates have said defence services should not be used for “social experiments”.
“When it comes to the men and women of the military, I don’t think the military should be governed by political correctness. Or should be used as for social experiments,” Senator Ted Cruz said. “If I am elected president we will not be drafting our daughters into combat on the front lines,” Mr Cruz said. He slammed other Republican presidential candidates who have supported the move to draft women into military combat. “I was astonished two debates ago when three different Republican candidates for President stood up and supported drafting women into combat. I think that doesn’t make any sense, Mr Cruz said.
