GOP Candidates All But Declare Clinton the Democratic Nominee

It seemed the only Democratic adversary on the minds of candidates at the FOX Business Network Republican primary debate was Hillary Clinton. Whether it was criticizing her stance on key issues or delivering jabs at Clinton’s personal life, the GOP candidates left no opportunity to bring up the Democratic frontrunner’s name untouched.

Scarce was any mention of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, save for a question posed by the moderators about the Vermont Senator to Ohio Governor John Kasich:

“Hillary Clinton is getting some serious competition from Senator Bernie Sanders…So what does it say about our country that a candidate who is a self-avowed socialist and who doesn't think a 90% tax rate is too high could be the Democratic nominee?”

To which Kasich replied, in part, “I know Bernie, and I can promise you he's not going to be president of the United States.”

In a recent Fox News poll, Clinton has garnered 54% support for the nomination among Democratic primary voters compared to Sanders at 39%. While Clinton has been the Democratic frontrunner from the start and continues to lead Sanders in the polls, there is still a ways to go in the primary process.

Nevertheless, the number of times the former Secretary of State was mentioned combined with the dismissal of Sanders as a legitimate threat to the presidential race no doubt left viewers wondering if the GOP considers Clinton the official Democratic nominee.

Here are some of the most standout swipes at Clinton from the FBN debate.

Former HP (NYSE:HPQ) CEO Carly Fiorina:

“Unlike another woman in this race, I actually love spending time with my husband.”

“Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, they all refuse to lead. Worse, they refuse to respond when this nation is provoked. Hillary Clinton famously asked what difference does it make how four Americans died in Benghazi?”

“ Mrs. Clinton, actually, you cannot wipe a server with a towel.”

“You know, everybody out there watching knows this. You cannot wait to see the debate between me and Hillary Clinton. You would pay to see that fight.”

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie:

“… Here's my warning to everybody out in the audience tonight. If you're worried about the world being on fire, you're worried about how we're going to use our military, you're worried about strengthening our military and you're worried most of all about keeping your homes and your families safe and secure, you cannot give Hillary Clinton a third term of Barack Obama's leadership.

“Hillary Clinton cannot be president. It will lead to even greater war in this world. And remember this, after Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have had nearly eight years, we have fewer democracies in the world than we had when they started.”

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush:

“If [Hillary Clinton] gets elected, her first 100 days instead of setting an agenda, she might be going back and forth between the White House and the court house.”

“… Hillary Clinton would be a national security disaster.”

“Everybody on this stage is better than Hillary Clinton.”

“These attack ads are going to be part of life. Everybody just needs to get used to it. Everybody's record's going to be scrutinized, and at the end of the day we need to unite behind the winner so we can defeat Hillary Clinton, because she is a disaster.”

Florida Senator Marco Rubio:

“Yeah, I would go, first of all, one step further in this description of Hillary Clinton. She wouldn't just be a disaster, Hillary Clinton is disqualified from being Commander in Chief of the United States.”

“Someone who cannot handle intelligence information appropriately cannot be Commander in Chief and someone who lies to the families of those four victims in Benghazi can never be President of the United States. Ever.”

“If we elect Hillary Clinton, the next four years will be worse than the last eight.”