GOP Candidates turn from debate airwaves to ground game

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - The Republican Presidential debate set a record in the Nielsen ratings Thursday night.

An estimated 24 million viewers watched the GOP’s top ten candidates on Fox News Channel making it the highest rated primary debate in TV history.

Donald Trump’s performance did little to damage his frontrunner status, but the billionaire took to Twitter immediately after Thursday’s debate to criticize the Fox News moderators.

Other candidates immediately began trying to turn the debate into political capital.

Jeb Bush spoke at a town hall gathering in the key primary state of New Hampshire.

“I had fun last night. I really enjoyed getting to know Donald Trump up close and personal,” Bush told the crowd, getting laughter.

“I know how to change big, complex things and I got to tell that Florida story so I thought it (the debate) went fine,” Bush said.

Senator Ted Cruz cruised through South Carolina beginning a tour of eight southern states.

Bay Area political analyst Brian Sobel said while some candidates did better than others in Thursday’s debate, there will be other factors that will be more important in narrowing the current field of 17 candidates.

“What will tell the difference is how much money people are raising, their ability to get out and talk to voters, get mail out to people, television advertising. That will separate the contenders,” Sobel said.

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker wasted no time turning his performance into a political ad.

Perhaps the biggest winner, though, is the voters who were able to see the wide range of GOP choices standing side by side.

“I think you're seeing a Republican party in transition. And the field, if you look at it, has more diversity than we've seen in years," Sobel said.

Five of the candidates got back on stage Friday addressing conservative activists at a Red State Conference in Atlanta. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Carly Fiorina and Governor Rick Perry all attended the event.

“I was up late last night, not as late as I wanted to be,” Perry quipped, referring to his relegation to the second tier debate.

Some say Carly Fiorina, who was also put in the second tier debate, may have gained the most Thursday.

"When I went into the debate last night only 40% of the voters knew my name. I'm not a professional politician and not a celebrity.  I'm still introducing myself and that gave me an opportunity to do so,” Fiorina told Fox News.

Five more GOP candidates will speak at the Red State Conference Saturday.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, and Donald Trump.

Trump is scheduled to give his talk at a tailgate party at College Football Hall of Fame.