MANCHESTER, N.H. — The Republican Party's presidential class called for aggressive steps to curb illegal immigration, seizing on a delicate political issue as more than a dozen White House hopefuls faced off in New Hampshire on Monday night for a pointed preview of the first full-fledged debate of the 2016 primary season.
Monday's participants included seven current or former governors, four senators, a businesswoman, a retired neurosurgeon and one former senator. Billionaire businessman Donald Trump, who has dominated the GOP primary in recent weeks, is among the three major candidates who decided not to join.
All but three of the 17 major Republican candidates for president participated in what was essentially a debate lite, which — unlike Thursday's nationally televised debate in Cleveland — didn't have a cut-off for participation.
The candidates focused their criticism at Democrats instead of each other, yet Monday's meeting offered a prime-time practice round for the GOP's most ambitious, who appeared on stage one at a time. They addressed several contentious issues, immigration topping a list that included abortion, climate change and foreign policy.
Read Tuesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.