Second Republican Party presidential debate, September 2015 in Simi Valley, California

Candidate Jul–Sep polls[1] Aug–Sep polls[1] Airtime [2]
Trump 24.0% 27.8% 18:47
Bush 11.5% 9.2% 15:48
Fiorina 2.2% 4.4% 13:30
Carson 8.9% 14.0% 12:56
Christie 3.1% 2.8% 12:36
Rubio 5.6% 5.4% 11:21
Cruz 6.3% 7.4% 10:45
Paul 4.7% 3.2% 10:28
Kasich 3.2% 3.6% 9:44
Huckabee 5.6% 4.4% 9:20
Walker 9.4% 5.6% 8:29
Candidate Jul–Sep polls[1] Aug–Sep polls[1] Airtime [2]
Graham 0.47% 0.28% 19:47
Santorum 1.21% 0.8% 15:38
Jindal 1.06% 0.56% 13:06
Pataki 0.53% 0.44% 10:58

The Republican Party's second presidential debate ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election was held on September 16, 2015 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, which previously hosted two of the 2008 Republican debates – the first and penultimate ones.

This 2015 debate was aired on CNN, and simulcast on the Salem Radio Network. Similar to the Fox News-sponsored debate in Cleveland, but with slightly different ranking-criteria, the debate was split into primetime and pre-primetime groups based on averaged polling numbers.[3] The primetime debate was originally planned to include the candidates ranking in the top ten, as measured by nationwide polling performed by specific firms, averaged across polls that are released between July 16 and September 10;[4] the rules were later changed to allow candidates placing in the top ten in polls from August 7 through September 10 to qualify as well. This change was made due to an unexpected scarcity of polls taken after the August 6 debate, which would otherwise have been particularly disadvantageous to Carly Fiorina, who had significantly increased her support in polls taken after that debate but who would otherwise have been kept out of the primetime debate due to her minimal support in the large number of polls taken before the August 6 debate.[5]

Eleven candidates participated in the prime time debate: Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, John Kasich, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump, and Scott Walker.[6][7] The candidates in the undercard debate were Bobby Jindal, Lindsey Graham, Rick Santorum, and George Pataki.[6] Rick Perry had been invited to the undercard debate but suspended his campaign on September 11, effectively ending his candidacy.[8] Former governor Jim Gilmore did not qualify for either debate.[6][9]

The undercard broadcast took place at 3 PM PDT, while the main card broadcast took place at 5 PM PDT.[10] The two-tiered CNN broadcasts were consecutive, with the primetime debate immediately following the second-tier broadcast.[11] The moderator was Jake Tapper of CNN, with participation by Hugh Hewitt and Dana Bash.[12] The primetime debate, like the first on Fox News, was a massive ratings success with nearly 23 million viewers, roughly 1 million less than the previous debate, and setting the record for the highest-rated broadcast in CNN's history.[13]

The primary focus of the debate was on Carly Fiorina, the one and only candidate who rose from the "undercard" tier of the previous debate into the primetime debate this time around. After the debate, most analysts believed that she successfully solidified her newfound status as a top-tier candidate, and successfully defended herself against attacks by Donald Trump. Marco Rubio was also largely viewed as the other strong performer of the night, and both Fiorina's and Rubio's poll numbers began to increase significantly in the wake of this debate.[14][15] Additional candidates who received praise included Mike Huckabee and Chris Christie, while frontrunner Donald Trump, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, and Ohio governor John Kasich were largely criticized.[16][17] This was the second and final debate appearance by Wisconsin governor Scott Walker, who dropped out of the race five days later, saying that the subsequent decrease of his own poll numbers and fundraising were largely due to his two debate performances being largely panned by commentators.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Agiesta, Jennifer (September 14, 2015). "Carly Fiorina will appear in top-tier CNN Reagan Library debate". CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "On The Clock: Trump Gets Most Time In GOP Debate". NPR. September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Candidate Criteria for September 16, 2015 CNN Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Republican Presidential Primary Debate" (PDF).
  4. ↑ "Nancy Reagan invites 16 of 17 GOPers to CNN GOP debate". New York Daily News. August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  5. ↑ "CNN amends GOP debate criteria". CNN. September 1, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "11 Republicans to share stage in next presidential debate". Associated Press. September 10, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Republican presidential debate: as it happened". BBC News. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  8. ↑ Fahrenthold, David Weigel, David A.; Rucker, Philip (September 11, 2015). "Rick Perry suspends his presidential bid with ‘no regrets’". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Republican presidential debate: Trump and Bush clash but Fiorina stands out – as it happened". Guardian. September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  10. ↑ "CNN moves prime-time GOP debate to 8 pm". Politico. September 8, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Jake Tapper On Debate Prep And The Purpose Of Debates". The Hugh Hewitt Show.
  12. ↑ Hadas Gold (August 11, 2015). "16 GOP candidates invited to CNN debate". Politico.
  13. ↑ "GOP Debate Clocks Record Ratings for CNN". Deadline.
  14. ↑ "Marco Rubio Shines at Second Debate". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Krauthammer: Fiorina won GOP Debate, Rubio Came in Close Second". Fox News. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Republican Debate: Winners and Losers". CNN Politics. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  17. ↑ "GOP Debate: Fiorina, Rubio Won; Trump, Kasich Lost". National Review. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Scott Walker Drops out of 2016 Presidential Race". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
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