An Evening With the Republican Candidates

Benjamin in the press room at the Republican debate in Coral Gables

On March 10, the four remaining Republican presidential candidates took the stage on the campus of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. Business executive Donald Trump, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, and former Ohio Governor John Kasich talked about the economy, trade with other countries, education, and more. It was the final debate before Tuesday's primary elections in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio.

In the press room, huge Google monitors showed voters' views of the presidential candidates, which changed throughout the evening. I talked with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, whose network was broadcasting the debate. "[Whether] you’re moderating a debate, or watching it in the debate hall, there is energy, and it’s always intense," said Cooper, who has moderated numerous presidential debates.

A BETTER FUTURE

I asked Florida Governor Rick Scott, a Republican, his views about education. "My goal is to leave it up to the state [instead of the federal government], and let us make our own decisions," he said. Scott also mentioned that all of the Republican presidential candidates have asked for his endorsement, but that he wouldn’t say who he was endorsing at this time.

Benjamin interviews Florida Governor Rick Scott.

After the debate, I caught up with Governor Kasich in the "Spin Room." When asked what he thought was the biggest issue facing the United States, he said, “It’s your future, kiddo. We want you to have a better America from your mom and dad than what they got from their parents.”