Trump lambasted for inconsistency but earns candidates' backing

(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON March 4 (KUNA) -- Republican candidates vying to represent the party in the November US presidential elections attacked frontrunner Donald Trump for failure to announce his strategies particularly on the economy but collectively said they would back him as party leader.The debate hosted by US channel Fox News on Thursday evening was held in the state of Michigan where in five days voters will opt for one of the four Republican candidates left who will face a Democrat rival in the presidential elections come November.Florida Senator Marco Rubio said Trump "deserves to be attacked" as he has focused his campaign on mocking other candidates instead of responding to a question from a panel of presenters about his economic strategy.It is because of this Rubio suggested that Trump has received "an enormous amount of coverage" from the media.Taking a further dig at Trump Texas Senator Cruz later said in response to a question about the rising cost of living in the US that the problem was about "solutions not slogans." Ohio Governor John Kasich who branded himself the "grown-up" refused to be drawn into the conflict but instead said he was more equipped to handle the economy due to his experience."We've got to be redo our trade" Trump said in response to a question about his stance on foreign trade. China Japan and Mexico are "crushing us" he said after promising to pull back his clothes manufacturing lines in China and Mexico.In response to questions posed on US policy towards terrorism Rubio and Kasich agreed on the need for ground troops to be deployed in both Iraq and Syria.On the other hand Trump stood firm on his suggestions for the military and intelligence to employ tougher torture methods on suspected terrorists and their families."We should go harder" he said in regards to the extent of torture employed by the US before adding "waterboarding is fine" in reference to the torture method employed particularly by the CIA in the George W. Bush era but is now banned.But after all was said and done Trump's three challengers announced in response to a question from the panel that they would back the candidate if he were to be elected party leader and chief Republican candidate.Trump has so far clinched 10 out of 15 states and has already won 329 delegates out of the 1762 majority needed to be announced Republican party leader in the upcoming presidential elections.If either second-placed Cruz who has won only four states or Rubio who has only taken one are to stand any chance at all of progressing either will have to win Ohio and Florida together two major primary states.Even with these two key states it seems inevitable that Trump will win the nomination even before the selection process deadline scheduled in June according to several US media projections.However veterans in the party are panicking about Trump's brash comments about fellow Republicans and negative policies towards Muslims and immigrants.Just a few hours before the debate highly revered former Massachusetts Governor and Republican 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a press conference labelled Trump a "phony a fraud" whose promises are "worthless." (end) sd.gta