GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The six-hour Republican conclave here is (finally) over and we have all the details over at our premium site and in the printed paper Saturday.
Some highlights and leftovers that didn't make the main story:
- Yes, the news early in the day was that Donald Trump bailed at the last minute, but judging purely from audience reaction, the 10,000 activists here for the Heritage Action Presidential Forum were equally enamored of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and former CEO Carly Fiorina. Cruz got the warmest welcome when introduced while Fiorina left the stage to thunderous applause.
- Cruz was clearly more relaxed in this setting, on stage alone, than he was during Wednesday night's three-hour televised debate in California. His son-of-a-preacher cadence was more at home before a sympathetic crowd and his talking points landed like laser-guided, drone-fired missiles.
- Fiorina, meanwhile, started slowly, her soft voice difficult to hear. But, as soon the crowd began to lift her up, she was off and her responses to a series of questions got stronger as she went.
- Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was close to perfect, too, and used his sense of humor and mastery of the issues to excel. For whatever reason, however, the crowd didn't roar quite as loudly for him.
- Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush all did perfectly fine, though none stood out.
- Dr. Ben Carson, was nearly as good as Rubio.
- Union-busting Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker got plenty of love from fellow anti-union Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina.
- Each candidate was asked to record a video answering one question: How would you as president create an atmosphere where there is opportunity for everyone and preferential treatment for none? The candidates' submissions ranged from glossy, expensive productions for Rubio, Cruz and Paul, to poorly lit missives by Fiorina and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
- Finally, poor Bobby Jindal and Chris Christie: the last two speakers of the night had to follow Fiorina and many in the audience followed her out the door.
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