Christie focuses attacks on Clinton in GOP undercard debate

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Relegated to the Republican undercard debate for the first time, Chris Christie focused on attacking Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton as he tried to use his performance as a springboard back into the field's top tier.

The Louisiana governor repeatedly jabbed at Christie and his fellow Republicans, criticizing their states' economic records and accusing them of being watered-down Democrats instead of true conservatives.

Coming into the debate, Christie and his backers tried to put a positive spin on his downgrade from the main stage, arguing it would give him more airtime to make his case to viewers.

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina was able to use her position in the first undercard debate to catapult herself into the top-tier of candidates, and some hoped Christie might be able to bounce back.

Jindal has yet to make it onto the main debate stage, and he used his time to hammer home the argument that he was the only person on stage who had cut government spending in his state.