Front-runner Donald Trump stumbles after barrage of policy questions
Rochester, New Hampshire (CNN)Donald Trump stood sweating in a crowded gym, fielding questions from voters on agriculture fees, family court disputes and military base closures.
The Republican front-runner was no longer in his wheelhouse.
Trump is often at ease parrying questions about trade, tax inversions and the deals Carly Fiorina made as chief executive of Hewlett-Packard. But on a host of issues -- some as pronounced as the future of Social Security -- Trump has shown little interest in engaging, much less detailing, his policy positions.
On Thursday evening, one voter asked Trump about GOP presidential candidate John Kasich's recent remark that the military base realignment and closure process keeps workers "on their toes." The Ohio governor's comment has drawn scrutiny in a state that is home to some 130,000 veterans and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
"You're saying that's what's happening, right?" Trump said. "I heard that yesterday, actually. Not a good situation. Okay, one more question," Trump said.
When a man complained about fees from the Bureau of Land Management and the Department of Agriculture, Trump declared, "Things are going to change!" Then he quickly moved on.
At one point a mother stood up. "My question is a little closer to home," she said, explaining that she has spent years and thousands of dollars to keep her family safe. She asked Trump how he would fix the court system so other families wouldn't endure what she has gone through.
"Did you say safe? To keep them safe?" Trump asked. "What are you doing?"
"It's over now," the woman replied. "The family court system is broken."
Trump's reply: "The whole court system is broken by the way, not just family court."
Then he awkwardly pivoted to an attack on former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
"I do think that should be a local situation, though. I'll give you an example, Jeb Bush loves Common Core," he said. "I want to see local people teaching your kids."
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