As Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O’Malley went head to head in Des Moines, Iowa for their second debate, some of their GOP counterparts took to social media to offer their critiques early and often.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was the most vocal on Twitter early in the evening, lobbing retorts to the candidates’ responses on terrorism, health care, and raising minimum wage.
According to a post-debate report from Twitter, Clinton accounted for 45% of the conversation on the social media platform about the debate, Sanders ranked second with 41%, and O’Malley came in third at 16%. But Hillary Clinton was the clear common target for many of the tweeting GOP candidates.
.@CBSNews – Ask this immigration question to @HillaryClinton: "How many "Syrian refugees" will you sponsor in Chappaqua? #DemDebate
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) November 15, 2015We need a President who will see and speak and act on the truth…Hillary Clinton will not call this Islamic terrorism. I will.
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) November 15, 2015Yes, @HillaryClinton we are at war with radical Islam! You are not qualified to serve if you cannot even define our enemy! #DemDebate
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) November 15, 2015It wasn’t until the second hour of the debate that frequent tweeter Donald Trump, weighed in on the candidates’ performances, taking aim at O’Malley, who called Trump an “immigrant-bashing carnival barker.”
Hillary and Sanders are not doing well, but what is the failed former Mayor of Baltimore doing on that stage? O'Malley is a clown.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2015Trump was slow to engage with the debate, choosing at first to focus on his own status in the the race. His first tweet during the program, shared a polling graphic showing the numbers in his favor.
Great news out of New Hampshire! DonaldTrump is pulling away from the pack w/ 2nd is 17% behind him! #Trump2016 pic.twitter.com/hASWradHMe"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2015The latest NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll shows Trump slipping behind Ben Carson for the top spot among GOP primary voters.
Farra Kober