Quote:Were the opening questions provided to the candidates ahead of time? It seemed like each one was answered as if they were prepared.

It did feel like they had something prepared. Christie's dramatic finish of his first answer right as the bell rung drew a huge applause, and seemed almost too perfect. I imagine the candidates and their advisors pretty well knew what the likely questions they'd face were, they certainly knew the rules of the game, and they likely had been preparing and memorizing answers to those obvious questions for several days ahead of time.

 

Of course, Carly Fiorina's closing (or opening?) statement being left on a hotel printer and published online before the debate suggests that there was still quite a bit of work going on the day of.

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