GOP Frontrunner Ben Carson Seemingly Takes Backseat In Debate

BOULDER, Colo. (WJZ) -- Scoring points in the presidential primary race. The Republican party's third presidential debate is stirring up controversy on several fronts.

Political reporter Pat Warren reports frontrunner former Maryland neurosurgeon Ben Carson seemed to take a backseat Wednesday night.

After the fashion of his profession, Maryland doctor Ben Carson vows to do no harm.

"And will not be engaging in awful things about my compatriots here," he said.

And with a number one ranking in the polls, he was less engaging than in previous debates--what political analyst Richard Vatz calls prevent defense.

"I think he realizes that he's got a tailwind, I think he realizes that he may, in fact, be headed to a possible unlikely nomination," said Vatz.

That holds for Donald Trump, as well.

"I think that the Republicans are being kind of goaded into nominating two people who have not a chance of winning this presidency," said Vatz.

So, who has that chance? Marco Rubio scored points, sparring with a moderator on taxes, and criticized by Jeb Bush for missing Senate votes.

"The only reason why you're doing it now is because we're running for the same position and someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you," argued Rubio.

Bush, on the other hand, fared poorly among critics.

"And I really thought he looked so bad in this debate that I really think this is the death knell for his candidacy," said Vatz.

New Jersey's Chris Christie scored when the question turned to regulating fantasy football.

"We have $19 trillion in debt, we have people out of work, we have ISIS and al Qaeda attacking us--and we're talking about fantasy football?" said Christie.

In addition, the GOP might do better with fewer candidates.

"You have a debate that is diluted by so many candidates. You can't have ten people. I think that Huckabee, Paul, Kasich, Fiorina, I think they really ought to drop out," said Vatz.

And, like the Democrats, we could see that happening.

Two Democrats dropped out of the race after their first debate. The Democrats meet November 14, where we'll see former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.

The Republicans also debate again in November. There are seven more to go.