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---
title: Republican Debate Poll: Who Won First Fox GOP Debate?
description: Vote here to decide who was the night's big winner
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author: TIME Staff
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article:published_time: 2015-08-07T03:11:01.000Z
article:modified_time: 2024-01-17T16:35:51.000Z
article:section: Politics
og:title: Vote Now: Who Won the First Republican Presidential Debate?
og:description: Cast your vote in our reader poll for who came out on top
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twitter:title: Vote Now: Who Won the First Republican Presidential Debate?
twitter:description: Cast your vote in our reader poll for who came out on top
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2b9542f072445bbc/69885e0e196cf4b11c0376b6/gop-republican-debate-fox.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# Vote Now: Who Won the First Republican Presidential Debate?

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/AWg12u3O.m3u8" -->
## Video: 2016 Republican Presidential Debate in Under 3 Minutes

[Watch (HLS stream): 2016 Republican Presidential Debate in Under 3 Minutes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/AWg12u3O.m3u8) (2:31)

![2016 Republican Presidential Debate in Under 3 Minutes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/AWg12u3O/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2015-08-07. 2016 Republican Presidential Debate in Under 3 Minutes_


by 

[TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/)


## TIME Staff


Updated: Jan 17, 2024 4:35 PM UTCPublished: Aug 7, 2015 3:11 AM UTC

2016 Republican Presidential Debate in Under 3 Minutes 

by 

[TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/)


## TIME Staff


Updated: Jan 17, 2024 4:35 PM UTCPublished: Aug 7, 2015 3:11 AM UTC

It’s all over but the shouting. [The first Republican presidential primary debate](http://time.com/3988189/republican-debate-fox-first-gop-donald-trump/) took place on Thursday night, with the 10 leading candidates making their pitches for why they should be the party’s nominee.

But who came out on top? Cast your vote in our reader poll for the person you think won the debate. The results of this poll are not scientific.

### See the 2016 Candidates Looking Very Presidential

![Values Voters Summit](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blteca63183ee10ad93/69876e6e524fc01ba7deb5ee/2016-candidate-ted-cruz.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Sen. Ted Cruz is surrounded by stars and stripes at the 2014 Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C. on September 26, 2014. Mark Peterson—Redux

![USA - Hillary Clinton speaks at Iowa Senator Tom Harken'a annual Steak Fry](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt93b62de1ce052076/69876e6955a859fa78a84b28/2016-candidate-hillary-clinton.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton gazes pensively into the distance at Iowa Senator Tom Harken'a annual Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa on September 14, 2014. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME

![Jeb Bush](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte6b9c84fc1cca4f3/69876e69cd6848d5f2098953/2016-candidate-jeb-bush.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Jeb Bush Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush flashes a power watch before giving his keynote address at the National Summit on Education Reform in Washington on Nov. 20, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP

![Sen. Bernie Sanders Launches Presidential Bid In Vermont](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte082a214af9b7e4b/698852863c16391f58458261/bernie-sanders.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Bernie Sanders waves to supporters after officially announcing his candidacy for the U.S. presidency during an event at Waterfront Park in Burlington, Vermont, on May 26, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images


![Political Theatre](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt0766f858773da967/69876e6906f2c1203f332d28/2016-candidate-chris-christie.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Chris Christie New Jersey Governor Chris Christie strikes a presidential power stance at the ceremony for the opening of the 206 bypass in Hillsborough, New Jersey on October 28, 2013. Mark Peterson—Redux

![Former Hewlett-Packard Co Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina listens to her introduction from the side of the stage at the Freedom Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 24, 2015.](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4975ff6b9c87b624/6988524be53abac4784ddf00/carly-fiorina3.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Former Hewlett-Packard Co Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina listens to her introduction from the side of the stage at the Freedom Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 24, 2015. Jim Young—Reuters

![Georgia Senate Candidate David Perdue Campaigns With Sen. Rand Paul \(R-KY\)](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4321061c6e3ae6fa/69876e6c8e0601ff94459317/2016-candidate-rand-paul.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Rand Paul Sen. Rand Paul works a crowd during a campaign stop on October 24, 2014 in McDonough, Georgia. Jessica McGowan—Getty Images


![Rick Perry](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb22cee8794aa89c2/69876e6c5f570ff175b14298/2016-candidate-rick-perry.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Rick Perry Texas Gov. Rick Perry looks powerfully patriotic during the National Anthem before an NCAA college football game on Nov. 27, 2014, in College Station, Texas. David J. Phillip—AP

![Bobby Jindal](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt616ebc6faea18b8f/69876e68e20a871d05a83f7c/2016-candidate-bobby-jindal.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Bobby Jindal Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal looks to the future during The Family Leadership Summit on Aug. 9, 2014, in Ames, Iowa. Charlie Neibergall—AP

![Martin O'Malley](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta5c8be4610d96149/69876e6af887dc520fe88fbb/2016-candidate-martin-omalley.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Martin O'Malley Maryland Governor Martin OíMalley ponders decorating ideas in front of his possible future home on CBS's Face the Nation on Feb. 23, 2014. Chris Usher—AP


![Marco Rubio](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt22e33d6adfb00d37/69876e6ba988ca4fe36ab5a9/2016-candidate-marco-rubio.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Marco Rubio Sen. Marco Rubio looks determined the morning after the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. on January 29, 2014. Melissa Golden—Redux

![Ben Carson](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt3d47ce963441fea4/69876e760b72e3d0fc6dc93f/2016-candidate-ben-carson.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Ben CarsonBen Carson at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference on March 8, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP

![Barack Obama, Jim Webb](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaeea027717cb3d46/69876e69cd6848530c098957/2016-candidate-jim-webb.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Jim Webb Retiring Sen. Jim Webb imitates the presidential wave during a rally in Virginia Beach, Va. on Sept. 27, 2012. Steve Helber—AP


![John Kasich, Election](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9134285a6487924e/69876e6a428a9ecef5cc601c/2016-candidate-john-kasich.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

John Kasich Ohio Gov. John Kasich practices his presidential victory pose at the Ohio Republican Party celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio. Tony Dejak—AP

![Conservative Political Action Conference](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc770a30b595d8098/69876e6c428a9e3675cc6024/2016-candidate-rick-santorum.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Rick Santorum Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum looks resolute at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference on March 7, 2014. Brooks Kraft—Corbis

![Scott Walker](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt2361480011311caf/69876e6cf887dce796e88fbf/2016-candidate-scott-walker.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Scott Walker Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker practices the presidential point on March 3, 2014 in Milwaukee. Jeffrey Phelps—AP


![Mike Huckabee](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc789ba59fc2e9a6c/69876e6be20a8712aea83f80/2016-candidate-mike-huckabee.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Mike Huckabee Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee fine-tunes his presidential oratory at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md. on March 7, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP

![Former Rhode Island Governor Chafee poses for a selfie with a student after announcing he will seek the Democratic nomination to be U.S. president during an address to the GMU School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs in Arlington](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt6b60ffc80f34b8f8/69885364a988ca32716b2e68/lincoln-chafee-selfie.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Lincoln Chafee, Former Rhode Island Governor, poses for a selfie with a student after announcing he will seek the Democratic nomination for president in Arlington, Va. on June 3, 2015. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters

![FILE: Lindsey Graham To Run For President](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt58891591fbe43637/698852870b72e3b4aa6e444b/lindsey-graham.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

Lindsey Graham Lindsey Graham announced his plans to join the 2016 presidential race. Alex Wong—Getty Images


![Former New York governor George Pataki listens to a question at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Conference in Nashua, New Hampshire, in this April 17, 2015 file photo. Pataki on May 28, 2015 entered the race for the 2016 Republican presiden](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda9363f799dca6e6/698852875f570f3f01b1bc0e/george-pataki.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp)

George Pataki Former New York governor George Pataki listens to a question at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Conference in Nashua, New Hampshire, in this April 17, 2015 file photo. Brian Snyder—Reuters


## Transcript

I don't want my marriage or my guns registered in Washington. Why don't I talk about race that often I said it's because I'm a neurosurgeon. To the families of those who died in that war who say they liberated a country and deposed a ruthless dictator, how do you look at them now and say your brother's war was a mistake? Knowing what we know now, it was a mistake. How is Hilary Clinton gonna lecture me about living paycheck to paycheck? I was raised paycheck to paycheck. [ APPLAUSE ] [ MUSIC ] We need to build a wall, and it has to be built quickly. And I don't mind having a big beautiful door in that wall so that people can come into this country legally.

We need to keep illegals out. I also believe we need a fence. The problem is if El Chapo builds a tunnel under the fence we have to be able to deal with that too. Mr. Trump is touching a nerve because people want the wall to be built. People want an end to illegal immigration and they want to see it end and we all do. A 4 % growth strategy means you fix a convoluted tax code. The first thing we need to do is we need to even out the tax code for small businesses so that we lower their tax rate to 25 % just as we need to lower it for all businesses. You get in and you change every aspect of regulations that are job killers.

We can get rid of the internal revenue service if we would pass the fair tax which is a tax on consumption rather than attacks on people's income. We need to repeal and replace Obamacare. Iran is not a place we should be doing business with. To me we terminate the deal on day one, you reinstate the sanctions authorized by Congress. I think President Obama gave away too much, too early. I would have never released the sanctions before there was consistent evidence of compliance. The world has a burgeoning nuclear power, but the Iranians have said is we will wipe Israel off the face of the map and we will bring death to America.

As governor of the state of Florida, I defunded Planned Parenthood. I created a culture of life in our state. I was in business, they asked me a question as to pro life or choice. And I said if you let it run that I hate the concept of abortion. I hate the concept of abortion. What I have advocated is that we pass a law in this country that says that all human life At every stage of its development is worthy of protection. In fact, I think that law all ready exists, it's called the Constitution of the United States. [ MUSIC ]

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