GOP long-shot candidates debate who is more conservative

MILWAUKEE — Four low-rated Republican presidential candidates took turns Tuesday bashing President Obama for what they called a slow-growth economy and argued with each other about who is best qualified to revive the nation's fortunes by cutting government.

"We need a conservative, not a big government Republican in D.C.," said Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, perhaps the most aggressive participant in the so-called "happy hour" debate held at a theater in downtown Milwaukee.

Jindal, citing his own record of budget cutting, aimed his "big government" barbs at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, two candidates who participated in three previous prime-time debates but found themselves relegated to the preliminary forum this time around.

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As Huckabee disputed Jindal's critique -- "a lot of us have cut things" -- Christie said that Republicans should stop criticizing each other and keep the focus on likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, calling her "the real adversary" in the 2016 election.

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"Believe me, Hillary Clinton's coming for your wallet, everybody," Christie said. "Don't worry about Huckabee or Jindal — worry about her."

The fourth candidate on stage, former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, touted his conservative record in Congress, and noted that he won elections in a Democratic-leaning state.

"You want someone who can win Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, with a conservative message?" Santorum said. "I'm your guy."

Huckabee, meanwhile, touted his populist credentials, telling the supportive crowd that "I've never been the favorite of the people with the most money."

Fox Business Network and The Wall Street Journal sponsored Tuesday's economy-focused debate.

In outlining their economic plans, Christie called for a "fairer, flatter, and simpler" tax code, while Huckabee said his proposed "fair tax" would revive the nation's manufacturing base.

Santorum called for a more efficient tax code and elimination of Obama-era regulations that are hampering businesses. Jindal cited his economic record in Louisiana, saying his cut-the-budget approach has diversified the state's economy.

While the economy dominated the debate, some foreign policy issues also popped up.

Christie hit Obama for a "weak and feckless" foreign policy, and vowed to cyber-retaliate against China if they continue to launch hack attacks against the United States, Huckabee, meanwhile, warned the nation against admitting refugees from Syria, saying some potential terrorists could be smuggled in.

The candidates also jousted with the moderators, refusing to answer a question about their favorite Democrat in government and instead re-asserting their own platforms. "I want to fire everybody in D.C.," Jindal said. "In both parties."

Candidates needed to average at least 2.5% in the four most recent national polls leading up to the debate to qualify for the main debate, scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET, and Christie and Huckabee fell just short.

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Two other candidates who have been in previous preliminary debates — South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham and former New York governor George Pataki — failed to poll well enough to receive an invitation this time around.

Graham instead took to social media platform Sidewire to answer questions.

Pataki, meanwhile, told USA TODAY's Capital Download Tuesday that "I don’t know if I’m even going to watch" the debate, adding that he was more likely to "wait for the highlights."

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While Carly Fiorina used the preliminary forum at the first debate in Cleveland on Aug. 6 as a springboard to qualify for later prime-time debates, candidates in the past two undercards have failed to gain any traction in the race from their performances.

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