cristian benevides reports on the action from miami. >> reporter: five republican candidates vying to overtake former president trump's lead debated each other wednesday night. they focused on israel's effort to crush hamas after the october 7th terror attack. >> i would be telling bb finish the job once and for all from these butchers hamas. >> i would tell him to smoke those terrorists on his southern border. >> reporter: and russia's war on ukraine -- >> here is a freedom-loving, pro-american country that is fighting for its survival and its democracy. >> reporter: they took on the abortion issue after ohio voters approved an amendment to enshrine the right to abortion in the state's constitution. >> we need a 15-week federal limit, three out of four americans agree with a 15-week limit. >> reporter: and they tackled the economy. >> this country is in trouble. the elites who put us here, they don't care about you. they don't care that you're having to grapple with higher grocery prices or higher gas prices. >> reporter: the republican hopefuls slammed president biden's first term i