FOX News Channel Debates in Cleveland--First Debate Reactions                    Thursday, August 6, 2015



FIRST DEBATE
Time Rec'd
 Title

FIORINA
6:19 p.m.
 Carly's closing statement tonight made the case for why we need a conservative leader unafraid of the Clinton Machine:

GILMORE

....

GRAHAM
6:26 p.m.
 STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO TONIGHT'S FOX NEWS "HAPPY HOUR" DEBATE

JINDAL
8:57 p.m.
 WTAS: Coverage of Governor Jindal’s Debate Performance
6:20 p.m.
 JINDAL CAMPAIGN STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR JINDAL’S DEBATE PERFORMANCE

PATAKI

...

PERRY
7:43 p.m.
 What They're Saying About Gov. Perry's "Very Strong" Debate Performance
6:20 p.m.
 Statement: Gov. Perry Won Tonight's Debate

SANTORUM

Santorum Stands as Commander-in-Chief Ready in First Debate


Carly for President
August 6, 2015  6:19 p.m.

Carly's closing statement tonight made the case for why we need a conservative leader unafraid of the Clinton Machine:

"Hillary Clinton lies about Benghazi, she lies about emails, she is still defending planned parenthood, and is still her party's frontrunner. 2016 is going to be a fight between conservatism and a Democrat Party that is undermining the very character of this nation. We need a nominee who is going to throw every punch, not pull punches, and someone who cannot stumble before he even gets in the ring. I am not a member of the political class. I am a conservative I can win this job. I can do this job. I need your help and your support. I will with your help and support lead the resurgence of this great nation."

Anna Epstein
Press Secretary
Carly For President

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Graham 2016 Press Office
Thursday, August 6, 2015

STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO TONIGHT'S FOX NEWS "HAPPY HOUR" DEBATE

Alexandria, VA – In response to Senator Graham's performance in this evening's FOX News “Happy Hour” debate, campaign manager Christian Ferry today released the following statement: 


“Senator Lindsey Graham was the clear winner in today’s 'happy hour' debate.  He is ready to be Commander-in-Chief on day one.

“He is ready to give the American people an honest plan for how we protect our homeland – defeat them over there before they come here.  If a candidate for president does not understand that we must put American troops on the ground in Iraq and Syria, as part of a regional coalition, you are not ready to be Commander-in-Chief.  Lindsey Graham is.

“He clearly articulated how we defeat radical Islam: whatever it takes, as long as it takes, until we defeat them.  No one else on the stage has spent more time in the region understanding the challenges we face and planning the right solutions.

“He is also the candidate ready to take on Hillary Clinton. Better than anyone else on the stage, he knows how to define the failures of the Obama Administration and the role Secretary Clinton played in creating and executing its feckless foreign policy than anyone.

“If you want to put radical Islam in a box and nail it shut, if you want to defeat ISIL, if you want to restore the American Dream and reverse the onerous regulations that are stifling out the economy, Lindsey Graham is the only choice. The only one ready to lead.”

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Jindal for President
August 6, 2015  8:57 p.m.

WTAS: Coverage of Governor Jindal’s Debate Performance

BATON ROUGE – Tonight, Governor Jindal proved he is the only candidate in the race with the backbone, bandwidth and experience to get the job done as President. Here are some of the things people are saying about Governor Jindal’s debate performance:

Stephen Hayes 
✔@stephenfhayes
Fiorina & Jindal did well and could be on the big stage. I don't think anyone else made that case.
5:24 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Brian Wilson 
✔@BrianWilsonDC
Again, Jindal impresses.
4:16 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Brian Wilson 
✔@BrianWilsonDC
Best performance I've ever seen from Jindal. Crisp.
4:07 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Don Teague 
✔@DonTeagueFox26
Governor Jindal on the war on terror: "We are going to take the political handcuffs off the military." #GOPDebate
4:16 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Laura Ingraham 
✔@IngrahamAngle
Both @CarlyFiorina and @BobbyJindal did very very well. Countdown to candidates dropping out shd begin tmrw.
5:35 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Jon Scott 
✔@JonScottFNC
"Sometimes you win a war by killing murderous, evil terrorists." --Gov. Bobby Jindal #GOPDebate
4:19 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Chris Cillizza 
✔@TheFix
Rankings: 1. Carly 2. Jindal. None of the rest matter.
4:54 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Chris Cillizza 
✔@TheFix
Jindal did the most with the least. https://twitter.com/DomenicoNPR/status/629419865431015424 …

T.J. Holmes 
✔@tjholmes
Jindal forcefully criticizing Pres Obama for not calling out "radical Islamic terrorism." #GOPDebate
4:16 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Guy Benson 
✔@guypbenson
Really liked Jindal's Medicaid answer. Specific and substantive. I'm...skeptical that Pataki would've passed on expansion. #GOPDebate
4:44 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Stuart Rothenberg @StuPolitics
Usual, Jindal substantive.
4:16 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Taegan Goddard @politicalwire
Outperforming so far: Fiorina, Jindal Underperforming: Perry
4:17 PM - 6 Aug 2015

Noah Rothman @NoahCRothman
Jindal might have had the best day 1 answer.
5:05 PM - 6 Aug 2015
 
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Contact: Shannon Dirmann, Press Secretary
Jindal for President
August 6, 2015  6:20 p.m.

JINDAL CAMPAIGN STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR JINDAL’S DEBATE PERFORMANCE

CLEVELAND – Below is a statement from Jindal Campaign Manager Timmy Teepell on Governor Jindal’s debate performance this evening:

“Tonight, there was no lack of good lines and clever quips from candidates.  We saw plenty of smooth talking and famous names running for President, but only one candidate in the race has the backbone, the bandwith and the experience to get the job done as President – Governor Jindal.

“President Obama’s failure as President shows why we cannot trust a candidate who needs on-the-job-training no matter how well they speak. Governor Jindal is the most substantive of all the candidates in the field. He is a full spectrum conservative who will endorse, and not hide, his conservative principles.

“Now that the debate is over, the Governor will go back to doing what he does best – hunting where the ducks are, talking directly to voters, and building momentum in Iowa.”

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Perry for President
August 6, 2015  7:43 p.m.

What They're Saying About Gov. Perry's "Very Strong" Debate Performance

“Played In A Decisive, Informed Way” … “Having A Very Good Debate” … “[Perry] Is Bringing It” … “Performing Well”

CNN’s Jeff Zeleny: “Rick Perry Had A Very Strong Performance…Perry’s Tough Talk Against Donald Trump And Immigration Was Pretty Good.” (CNN, 8/6/15)

Zeleny: “An Improved Rick Perry.” (CNN, 8/6/15)

Bloomberg’s Joshua Green: Perry “Showed More Energy Than Anybody Else.” GREEN: “Rick Perry and his body language and sharp rebuttal of the Trump charge that he managed to secure the border. He showed more energy than anybody else.” (Bloomberg TV, 8/6/15)

Syndicated Columnist George Will: “A Much Better Candidate… Played In A Decisive, Informed Way…” WILL: “[Perry’s] a much better candidate now. He has, as he'll tell you, governed longer than anybody else in Texas with astonishing job creation down there, and that's the big issue for most Americans. And he came to the second tier debate today and played in a decisive, informed way.” (Fox News, 8/6/15)

Pittsburgh Tribune’s Selena Zito: “Rick Perry Is Having A Very Good Debate.” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

Washington Examiner’s Paul Bedard: “[Governor Perry] Is Bringing It, So Much Better Than Four Years Ago, Or Even A Few Months Ago In Interviews. Got His Figures Down Too.” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

The Wall Street Journal’s Damian Paletta: “Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry Is The Most Combative Out Of The Gate.” (The Wall Street Journal, 8/6/15)

NBC’s Joe Scarborough: “First Round To Rick Perry And Carly.” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

Radio Host Hugh Hewitt: “Terrific Opening By [Governor Perry]” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

Hewitt: “Strong Response On Immigration…” Hewitt Tweet: “[Governor Perry] strong response on immigration ‘If you elect me president of the United States I will secure that border’” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

The Atlantic’s David Graham: “Hey, Pretty Good Finish From Rick Perry, I'd Say” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

CNBC’s Larry Kudlow: Perry “Really Good On Border Security.” Kudlow Tweet: “Really good on border security [Governor Perry]. He did it.” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

Kudlow: “White Out All Obama Exec Orders On First Day In White House. [Governor Perry] Spot On.” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

CBN’s David Brody: “[Governor Perry] Is So ‘On’ Tonight He Could Name 8 Agencies He's Close” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

Fox News Analyst Bernard Goldberg: “Perry Sounds Strong. Taking On Obama And His GOP Opponents.” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

The Iowa Republican’s Craig Robinson: “[Perry] Performing Well.” “I think [Governor Perry] has gotten the best questions of the candidates in this debate. Performing well.” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

Republican Strategist Liz Mair: “I Really Did Like Perry's Emphasis On His Economic Record And His Explanation About Why He, Above All Others, Should Be Trusted Re: Border.” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

Conservative Activist Chris Loesch: “I Thought [Perry] Did Great…” Loesch Tweet: “The Perry Camp is claiming victory tonight. I thought he did great and that Fiorina also stood out.” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

Conservative Activist Michael Reagan: “Perry Did A Great Job Of Putting 2012 Behind Him… Bravo” (Twitter.com, 8/6/15)

Perry for President
August 6, 2015  6:20 p.m.

STATEMENT: GOV. PERRY WON TONIGHT’S DEBATE

AUSTIN – Tonight Jeff Miller, Campaign Manager for Governor Rick Perry, released the following statement after Fox News' debate in Cleveland, Ohio:

“Governor Perry showed exactly why he is the best person to lead our nation. Not only does Governor Perry have an optimistic, conservative vision for the United States, he has an unparalleled record of accomplishment as the longest serving governor in Texas history. As president, Governor Perry will bring tried and tested solutions from Texas to Washington D.C. and return America to her rightful place in the world.”

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Santorum for President 2016
For Immediate Release
August 6, 2015
Contact: Matt Beynon

***STATEMENT***

Santorum stands as Commander-in-Chief ready in 1st presidential debate

VERONA, PA - Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) issued the following statement following the FOX News/Facebook Republican Presidential Debate.
 
John Brabender, Senior Advisor to the Santorum Campaign, said: "Rick Santorum clearly revealed he was the best candidate on stage tonight, demonstrating the experience and plan America desperately needs to restore prosperity for hard-working families. Rick also presented a bold vision for fixing the existing immigration crisis, and for protecting our nation from the enemies who want to destroy us. Game on!"