WASHINGTON — Donald Trump stole some of the biggest moments of the night in Thursday’s GOP presidential debate, but his flap with Fox News moderator Megyn Kelly on insulting women may backfire, political observers say.
In the opening, Kelly repeated comments Trump had made about women — “fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals” — and asked whether that’s the temperament of a president.
Trump brushed them off, joking they were directed at Rosie O’Donnell.
But when Kelly pushed back that Trump had gone “well beyond” the comedian, he said maybe he shouldn’t treat her so nicely.
“Trump’s spat with Megyn Kelly was stomach-turning and will haunt Trump in commercials,” said RC Hammond, former spokesman for Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign. “Start the speculation of what the stage would have been like with Carly Fiorina.”
Katie Packer Gage, Mitt Romney’s former deputy campaign manager, said Trump fell short.
“Trump is Trump,” Gage said. “Bloviating blowhard. He’s on defense and isn’t giving solid answers to back up his ideas. Bluster isn’t a plan.”
The prime-time debate had plenty of fireworks, bolstered by hard-hitting questions from Fox News moderators who tackled each of the candidates’ major flaws.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio handled tough questions adeptly and had one of the biggest applause lines of the night by pointing to the depth of GOP candidates while “Democrats can’t find one.”
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, the newest contender on the stage, benefited from the hometown advantage. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker also demonstrated competency and depth, observers said.
“Rubio is having the strongest night. Very solid on policy, passionate and articulates his vision. He took on Trump and he took on Hillary,” Gage said.
The more soft-spoken Dr. Ben Carson seemed to struggle to grab attention in the high-energy forum, at one point wondering aloud whether he would get another question.
He redeemed himself with perhaps the best closing statement. “I’m the only one … to take out half of a brain, although you would think, if you go to Washington, that someone had beat me to it.”
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush started a little shakily, but appeared to get better as the debate wore on and demonstrated competency, with Democrats comparing his low-key effort to the sparks generated by Trump.
“Jeb may be the nominee, but he is one of the most boring and least compelling politicians I have seen. Hard to see him firing up the base,” tweeted Dan Pfeiffer, President Obama’s former adviser.
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul wasted no time trying to rekindle his campaign by going after Trump and Christie on surveillance.
“Rand Paul had a tough night. He got schooled by Trump and by Christie so far. And his split screen shots are almost cartoonish. Not presidential,” Gage said.
Stuart Rothenberg, a political handicapper in Washington agreed, tweeting: “I don’t know if there is a loser so far, but Rand Paul certainly hasn’t been a winner.”
One element that seemed to be missing was Hillary Clinton. She skated away from the debate hardly touched.
“All 10 were 100 percent willing to fight each other,” Hammond said. “Reagan’s 11th commandment is no more.”