Hillary Clinton’s top aides said Wednesday night’s Republican debate was a win for them, citing the GOP’s virulent opposition to Planned Parenthood as a general-election vulnerability.
“It did illuminate for the American people that we think this is a Republican Party that is really out of touch from where most Americans are, and shows that they don’t have a lot of solutions for the problems that trouble people’s lives,” Jennifer Palmieri, Clinton’s communications director, said after the debate. “And it is important for people to know that and that is a win.”
Clinton’s team looked on as different Republican candidates jumped over each other to brandish their conservative bona fides on defunding the controversial women’s health organization.
“I think what will matter a year from now is how each candidate stood on the stage and said they would cut Planned Parenthood,” Palmieri said. “We know that women, beyond a Republican primary, they look at defunding Planned Parenthood as limiting women’s health choices.”
“To make a political issue out of that,” she added, “that is going to matter.”
In particular, it was businesswoman Carly Fiorina’s direct call to defund the organization that drew the attention of the Clinton team.
“This is about the character of our nation,” Fiorina said about a bill moving through Congress that would defend Planned Parenthood. “And if we will not stand up and force President Obama to veto this bill, shame on us.”
Ian Sams, one of Clinton’s spokesmen, tweeted after that exchange “Republicans clawing at each other over who hates Planned Parenthood more. Clip+save this entire section for a general election.”
When Robby Mook, Clinton’s campaign manager, was asked who he thought the breakout star of the night was, the veteran campaign hand indirectly said Fiorina.
“It is interesting that Carly Fiorina got her biggest applause when she went on a tirade against Planned Parenthood and said we need to cut their funding,” he said. “I think it will be interesting to see how women across this country respond to that.”
Clinton, a frequent target of Republican candidates on the campaign trail, also came under fire during Wednesday’s debates. Speaking about abortion, Christie said Clinton “believes in the systematic murder of children in the womb.”
And Jeb Bush slammed Donald Trump for what he said was buying influence of politicians, saying, “You got Hillary Clinton to go to your wedding.”