Here’s What the GOP’s 2016ers Tweeted After Learning the Debate Lineup
Ken McIntyre /
What do you say on Twitter after you’ve either made the cut as one of the 10 Republican presidential candidates who will slug it out in the main event, or learned you’re one of the seven who’ll have to be content with being on the undercard?
Maybe you celebrate with a reminder to the faithful to watch, or play to a strength by reminding followers of where you stand.
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Or, if you’re one of the seven deemed not ready for prime time, maybe you play the good sport by promoting your role in the “Happy Hour Debate.” With emojis.
The Daily Signal checked to see what the Republican hopefuls tweeted about after Fox News Channel announced the official debate lineup Tuesday evening on “Special Report With Bret Baier.”
That’s when the 10 candidates below learned they would be positioned onstage tonight at 9 p.m. ET in Cleveland, based on their standings in an average of five polls.
#FoxNews announces #GOPDebate lineup – @tedcruz and @GovMikeHuckabee are coming up next on #KellyFile. pic.twitter.com/F6nDXPkZg1
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) August 5, 2015
Fox will televise the event, with questions from Baier and fellow anchors Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace.
In descending order, Baier reported, the 10 in the first big bout are Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie and John Kasich.
In addition to the real estate magnate and TV personality, this group includes five current or former governors, three sitting senators and a neurosurgeon.
Here are some of their first tweets in the hours after the news:
"@sr_stocks: @WSJ @realDonaldTrump winner Trump. get use to it.Trump2016"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2015
In line with my FL record – we absolutely must defund PP and redirect those funds to other women’s health orgs: http://t.co/EMjdkwECb8
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) August 4, 2015
Happy Birthday to my friend Nevada Governor @BrianSandoval! – SW
— Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) August 5, 2015
— Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) August 5, 2015
Thank you @krauthammer, I appreciate the compliment. "Krauthammer on Carson: 'He's the tortoise [in the race]'" | http://t.co/W6pNmcBnow
— Dr. Ben Carson (@RealBenCarson) August 5, 2015
See y’all in Cleveland! https://t.co/iKrgwTLmfQ
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) August 5, 2015
I intend to restore American leadership to a world badly in need of it & defend our interests in the 21st Century: https://t.co/HhJJVDecEO
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 5, 2015
Paul, though his team soon began to promote his participation, first retweeted a TV station’s post about an upcoming New Hampshire swing:
.@RandPaul plans 2-day NH campaign swing next week; town halls in Claremont, Nashua; #fitn #nhpolitics http://t.co/pYQrWm9sqp via @jdistaso
— WMUR TV (@WMUR9) August 4, 2015
Christie’s first activity on Twitter since the announced lineup was this retweet:
My interview with Gov. @ChrisChristie is live right now. Listen here: http://t.co/jXwmC25QvY
— Bill Bennett (@WilliamJBennett) August 5, 2015
Kasich, in the 10th spot and governor of the state where the debate is being held, sent out a series of Ohio-themed tweets.
Kelly identified the remaining seven GOP candidates who would appear together in a second live debate on the same stage at 5 p.m. ET, moderated by Fox’s Bill Hemmer and Martha MacCallum.
In descending order according to the average of polls, they are Rick Perry, Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, Carly Fiorina, Lindsey Graham, George Pataki and Jim Gilmore.
The 7 in the 5pm debate: @GovernorPerry @RickSantorum @BobbyJindal @CarlyFiorina @LindseyGrahamSC @GovernorPataki @gov_gilmore #GOPDebate
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) August 4, 2015
Although they currently poll in the low single digits or below, these hopefuls include four current or former governors, a senator, a former senator and an experienced business executive.
Their initial tweets after not making the cut aimed for graciousness, seriousness of purpose and even humor:
I look forward to being @FoxNews 5pm debate for what will be a serious exchange of ideas & positive solutions to get America back on track.
— Rick Perry (@GovernorPerry) August 4, 2015
Santorum’s Twitter account was silent until this morning, after he greeted the Fox anchor who will ask questions at the main event he’ll miss:
I ran into @BretBaier at daily mass in Cleveland. Mass is my #debateprep pic.twitter.com/43TKxqMjpU
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) August 6, 2015
Jindal pivoted to the issue of sanctuary cities:
I penned an Op-Ed for @DMRegister, "Force sanctuary city leaders to pay for crimes.” Read it here: http://t.co/InixNMilZE
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) August 5, 2015
I look forward to answering questions on Thursday in Cleveland. http://t.co/6mXBj2Wicb #Carly2016
— Carly Fiorina (@CarlyFiorina) August 4, 2015
"I'm running as somebody who's ready to be Commander-in-Chief on Day One." via @bpolitics http://t.co/OIMlR7UPaE
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 4, 2015
I would work to get enough Democrats to stand with the Republicans to defund #PlannedParenthood http://t.co/KoFaYTV5S7 @Newsmax_Media
— George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) August 4, 2015
As of this morning, Gilmore—who quietly entered the GOP race July 24 to become the 17th candidate for the nomination—had not used his Twitter account since July 26.
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