The event, moderated by ABC’s Jonathan Karl, marked the first time potential GOP contenders gathered on the same stage at the same time to talk about policy in 2015, a year that’s expected to see a hoard of candidates compete for the Republican nomination in forums and debates.
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It also offered a window into the unofficial campaign that’s largely playing out behind the scenes, with White House hopefuls traveling the country and meeting privately with donors — in settings much like the California desert Sunday — to gauge the kind of the financial commitments they could secure for a 2016 endeavor.
The first-term senators were keenly aware of their immediate audience — at one point Cruz blatantly said, “I admire Charles and David Koch” — but knowing their remarks would be public, they also sought to show off their command of the issues in a high-pressure scenario.
Paul plays defense on Cuba
The senators revealed little disparity on domestic and economic policies, but roughly half way into the event, the discussion shifted toward President Barack Obama’s new Cuba policy — and Paul instantly found himself on defense.
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The calm before the storm
Things certainly grew tense when the discussion focused on foreign policy, but the men didn’t deliver any blows or direct attacks against each other on stage. In fact, Cruz tried to round out the event with a glowing tribute to his soon-to-be rivals.
The senator, who was elected in 2012, pointed out that both Rubio and Paul mounted long-shot Senate bids in 2010 and won despite facing establishment money and resources.
“All of the money in their state was against them, and they ran campaigns that inspired me, inspired me to run,” said Cruz, who also won an underdog campaign.
Instead, knowing it’s never a bad idea for Republicans to attack the media, they directed any confrontational tones towards Karl for trying to get the men to give “yes or no” answers.
“When and if any of these people run for president, there should be an absolute rule: no ‘yes or no’ questions,” Paul said to the moderator, drawing applause from the audience and getting a “here, here” from one of his colleagues on stage.
