In a result that should surprise no one, Donald Trump was the most-tweeted GOP candidate by members of Congress and their staff during last night's debate. Yesterday's three-hour debate featured 11 candidates, with former HP CEO Carly Fiorina joining the ten candidates from Fox News' opening debate last month.
Members and staffers sent out nearly 2,000 tweets using the hashtags #GOPDebate and #CNNDebate last night, and while Trump received by far the most attention, Fiorina and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) were also highly discussed. The candidates, in order of Twitter mentions were:
1. Donald Trump: 303
2. Marco Rubio: 199
3. Carly Fiorina: 198
4. Jeb Bush: 128
5. Chris Christie: 64
6. Ted Cruz: 61
7. John Kasich: 58
8. Scott Walker: 49
8. Ben Carson: 49
10. Mike Huckabee: 40
11. Rand Paul: 32
CNN's second-tier debate, which aired just before the primetime one, also had a candidate who clearly dominated Twitter mentions. While the first debate only featured four candidates, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) received nearly as many mentions as the most-discussed candidates from the top-tier debate. The number of mentions from the four other candidates were:
1. Lindsey Graham: 155
2. Bobby Jindal: 24
3. Rick Santorum: 15
4. George Pataki: 10
Some top Hill tweets were:
Robbie Myers, digital director, Senate Republican Conference Committee
If you don't have it now, whatever it is, whatever it may be ... you will have it when @realDonaldTrump is president. #GOPDebate #CNNDebate
James Detlef Carstensen, chief of staff, Rep. David Young (R-Iowa)
Four more hours! Four more hours! #GOPDebate #CNNDebate
Danielle J. Branz, constituent liaison/special assistant, Rep. Dan Benishek (R-Mich.)
Dear CNN: I'd like to talk about jobs and the economy before midnight, please. Genuinely, Me #GOPDebate
Tara K. DiJulio, communications director, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.)
This debate is so long that I think it may be 2016 when it wraps. #GOPDebate
Sam McCullough, communications director, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.)
JUDICIAL NOMINATION ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACKING WINS ELECTIONS BABY #GOPDebate
Lindsay M. Jancek, communications director, Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.)
Trump vs Jeb and the jabs back and forth are making this #GOPDebate comical #thatface
Emily J. Goff, transportation policy adviser, House Budget Committee
So many mentions of the word "I." Didn't 7th grade English teachers talk about varying sentence structures? #GOPDebate
Kristin Lynch, communications director, Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.)
Seriously guys...where did Scott Walker go? And who slipped ambien in Ben Carson's coffee? #GOPDebate
Shane T. Smith, legislative correspondent, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.)
If the presidential thing doesn't work out for Ben Carson he should go into voice overs for audio books. #CNNDebate #RepublicanDebate
Kristina R. Baum, press secretary, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
What's clear is that stage is hot & sweaty. Get these folks some fans, err something! #CNNDebate
Naysa K. Woomer, scheduler/office manager, Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.)
@realDonaldTrump are you sunburned or does @CarlyFiorina have an affect on you #GOPDebate
Jose L. Lopez, district staff assistant, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas)
Im actually amazed by @CarlyFiorina debate performance. Both she & @JebBush are the only ones that havent yelled #CNNDebate #KeepitTogether
Jillian F. Neville, digital media director, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.)
Second-tier debate: Trump, Trump, Trump, Reagan, Trump, Trump, Reagan, *Graham setting something on fire*, Trump. #CNNDebate
