NH GOP "Voters First Forum" **live commentary thread**

[Mr. Morden]

Welcome to coverage of the 2016 primary season's first deba--I mean, candidate forum with some coincidental debate-like qualities.

This is a two hour event being held tonight at St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH, from 7pm to 9pm Eastern.  Though I saw a blurb on C-Span's website suggesting that they may begin pre-game coverage at 6:30pm.  In any case, it'll be broadcast nationally on C-Span, and presumably streamed live on their website.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/2/voters-first-forum-to-test-14-republican-president/

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The only hint I have as to the format is given here:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=215980.msg4675959#msg4675959

which suggests that it'll be a sequence of quick (probably ~4-5 minutes or so) interviews with all the candidates, then circle back to talk to each candidate a second time with followup questions, so that they can respond to what their opponents have said.  So it's like a slow motion debate.

Candidates who will participate in person:

Bush
Carson
Christie
Fiorina
Graham
Jindal
Kasich
Pataki
Perry
Santorum
Walker

In Washington for a Senate vote, but will participate via live video feed:

Cruz
Paul
Rubio

Won't be participating:

Gilmore (missed deadline for entering race)
Huckabee (never responded)
Trump (declined invitation)

[Mr. Morden]

The forum begins in about 12 hours, but feel free to post any pre-forum chatter here.

[Free Bird]

[Mr. Morden]

Reading this interview:

http://nhpr.org/post/14-gop-candidates-no-donald-trump-square-voters-first-forum

it sounds like each candidate will have "about seven minutes total" between the two rounds of questioning.  I guess they'll try to keep the speaking time roughly equal, which is something that may not happen at the Fox debate on Thursday.

[JerryArkansas]

Did any of you guys vote in the poll from The Union Leader asking what question they should ask?

[Mr. Morden]

Did any of you guys vote in the poll from The Union Leader asking what question they should ask?

I did, actually.  I don't remember which topics I picked exactly.  I think the top topics I picked were foreign policy ones though, followed by economic issues, but I don't remember exactly how the topics were divided up.

[JerryArkansas]

Did any of you guys vote in the poll from The Union Leader asking what question they should ask?

I did, actually.  I don't remember which topics I picked exactly.  I think the top topics I picked were foreign policy ones though, followed by economic issues, but I don't remember exactly how the topics were divided up.

I remember one of the prominent choices was on Gay marriage, I chose it in the hopes of someone having a got ya moment in it.  The top choice for me was I think Tax and the economy.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

I'm just stoked to see a live commentary thread for a debate again!

[yankeesfan]

I'm just stoked to see a live commentary thread for a debate again!

Agreed! It's been too long.

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

I'm just stoked to see a live commentary thread for a debate again!

The ones back in 2012 were fuking hillarious

[The Free North]

A nice tune-up for the big one later this week.

[Free Bird]

McQuaid is really passive aggressive.

[Mr. Morden]

Here's the live feed:

http://www.c-span.org/video/?327157-1/2016-republican-candidates-voters-first-forum&live

Event will begin in ~15 minutes.

[#TheShadowyAbyss]

Trump stated the reason why he declined to attend is because the NH Union refuses to endorse him, according to McQuaid if I heard him correctly.

[The Free North]

Trump stated the reason why he declined to attend is because the NH Union refuses to endorse him, according to McQuaid if I heard him correctly.

Figures

[Mr. Morden]

I spotted Christie's wife in the crowd.  Also may have seen Judd Gregg.

The average age of the audience has got to be about 60 years old.

[dudeabides]

Trump stated the reason why he declined to attend is because the NH Union refuses to endorse him, according to McQuiad if I heard him correctly.

You did hear that correctly. The New Hampshire Union Leader is a serious publication, so it's no surprise they won't endorse Trump. However, if Trump were a serious candidate, he'd go to the event anyway because maybe he could win them over.

[dudeabides]

I spotted Christie's wife in the crowd.  Also may have seen Judd Gregg.

The average age of the audience has got to be about 60 years old.

Bad for Rand. Good for Cruz re: age.

I also saw Mary Pat Christie.

[The Free North]

Looks like Perry is kicking things off.

[Mr. Morden]

At the bottom of the screen on C-SPAN, they briefly showed the speaking order:

Perry, Santorum, Kasich, Graham, Christie, Carson, Bush, Fiorina, Jindal, Walker, Pataki, Paul, Cruz, Rubio.

[The Free North]

This feels like a JV team without the Donald.

[Mr. Morden]

All the candidates come on stage….don't leave them up there for too long, or this might count as a debate!

[AelroseB]

Haha Rick Perry's bro bump with Santorum.

[Likely Voter]

Drinking game suggestions:

Take a shot if the following words are mentioned:
- Jesus (or Christ or God)
- Reagan
- Guns (or Arms or Weapons)
- Benghazi


double shot if there is crowd shot of a genuine black person

[BaconBacon96]

Is the video not loading for anyone else.