From Cleveland, Ohio

If there was one Republican who managed to shine in the pre-debate forum on Thursday, it might have been Carly Fiorina, who drew a lot of postgame attention for her straight answers.

"We need a leader who will lead the resurgence of this great nation and unlock its potential again," Fiorina said at the outset of the forum, which was a consolation event for those who did not make the main stage in the GOP debate.

Fiorina also took aim at Donald Trump, accusing Trump of changing his views on a host of subjects out of political expedience.

"He has changed his mind on amnesty, on health care and abortion," Fiorina said, asking out loud whether that showed Trump would not be a good leader if elected.

After the debate, Fiorina had a lot of reporters crowding around her, much more than the other Republicans.

ajc.com

Credit: Jamie Dupree

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Credit: Jamie Dupree

We'll see whether she can jump up in the polls.

As for the others in the debate, it wasn't that any of them did badly, they just didn't seem to generate as much attention after the event as Fiorina.