Eleven Republican presidential candidates faced-off on Wednesday night in the party's second major debate, vying for airtime to show the American public exactly where they stand on the issues.
As is typically the case in these debates, though, a number of candidates made "inflated claims" that didn't quite square with the facts, with the Associated Press subsequently fact-checking these statements.
To begin, the outlet claimed that businessman Donald Trump was potentially incorrect in stating his beliefs about autism and vaccines.
Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, center, speaks as the other candidates look on during the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
"I'm in favor of vaccines, do them over a longer period of time, same amount, but just in little sections and I think you're going to see a big impact on autism," he said.
But the Associated Press stated that medical researchers have debunked claims that vaccines hold the potential to lead to autism and developmental disorders, noting that at least one study that claimed to have found a connection between the two was later retracted.
Trump, who found himself in a heated back-and-forth with former Florida governor Jeb Bush over whether the businessman once wanted casino gambling in that state, was also hit with another fact-check.
Bush said that Trump wanted him to change his views on casino gambling when he was governor, but that he had refused, to which Trump responded, "I didn't. ... totally false," and added, "I promise if I wanted it, I would have gotten it."
But the Associated Press said that Trump's ambitions for Casino gambling in the 1990s were well-known, and that Bush never bent to his efforts to see it come to fruition in Florida, though it is unclear of Trump every personally reached out to Bush on the matter.
Republican presidential candidate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, right, and Donald Trump joke during the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, too, was fact-checked over a claim that he made about medical marijuana.
"In New Jersey, we have medical marijuana laws, which I've supported and implemented," Christie said.
But the Associated Press reported that Christie has been slow in implementing medical marijuana law, with some critics claiming that there are restrictions and barriers placed on the program, which was signed into law before he took office.
Read the rest of the Associated Press fact-check here.
