WCPO followed Cincinnati and Ohio leaders and a few national political voices as they tweeted about Thursday night's Republican presidential debate.
The Fox Business debate in North Charleston, South Carolina, hosted the top seven GOP candidates in the race for the White House, but at times it felt as if it were a one-on-one exchange between the top two in the polls: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.
Some political pundits praised Gov. John Kasich's performance as strong, while others called him boring. Here's what they tweeted:
Here's what Republicans said:
Ari Fleischer, former press secretary for President George W. Bush:
This is Kasich's strength - identifying with middle class needs and struggles.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 15, 2016
Kasich is having a good night. He really hurt himself a few debates ago when he sort of supported the Iran deal. Not tonight.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 15, 2016
Kellie Wise, chief of staff for Hamilton County Commissioner Dennis Deters retweeted this:
@JohnKasich: Regulations are affecting everybody particularly small businesses. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/lIOANRLDSN
— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) January 15, 2016
Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges had this to say:
Great to be here at @RNC debate. Great start for @JohnKasich! pic.twitter.com/x85bJwgW5Q
— Matt Borges (@ChairmanBorges) January 15, 2016
Here's what Democrats said:
Dusty Rhodes, Hamilton County auditor, retweeted this:
Since Kasich started talking, FOX Business lost 3 million viewers.
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) January 15, 2016
Ted Cruz seems so disingenuous. He tries to come off genuine so hard it does the exact opposite. #GOPDebate
— Chris Seelbach (@ChrisSeelbach) January 15, 2016
Ben Caron's laugh is so weird and uncomfortable. #GOPDebate
— Chris Seelbach (@ChrisSeelbach) January 15, 2016
Kasich FactCheck: Kasich has attacked middle class wages and rights while adding to their tax burden
— David Pepper (@DavidPepper) January 15, 2016
Nothing less patriotic than pitting American regions and cities against each other. Absurd.
— David Pepper (@DavidPepper) January 15, 2016
Cincinnati City Council member and U.S. Senate candidate P.G. Sittenfeld:
Dear #GOPDebate candidates: Before going to bed, let me offer my concluding statement on your answers tonight... pic.twitter.com/ckCYIqQh1m
— P.G. Sittenfeld (@PGSittenfeld) January 15, 2016
Pete Metz, chief of staff for Vice Mayor David Mann:
I'm terrified by how enthusiastic every GOP candidate seems to be about taking our country to war #GOPDebate
— Pete Metz (@PeteMetz513) January 15, 2016