GOP Fox News debate: Presidential hopefuls fail to understand how to answer a question in just two words

Video: Lindsey Graham's two-word answer was actually 11 words long

You may be able to understand the Republicans' dislike of Hillary Clinton: she was a successful Secretary of State, travelling to the more countries than any of her predecessors; she is a clear favourite to continue the Democratic-hold of the White House; and she is the wife of Bill Clinton, who defeated the GOP at two presidential elections, including beating a a sitting Republican president.

Yet one cannot forgive seven GOP presidential hopefuls - individuals who hope to one day be the most powerful person in the world - from poor maths skills.

During the early Fox News GOP debate between the "secondary" group of Republican candidates (those not polling in the top ten nationally), the candidates were reminded of Barack Obama’s description of Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Democratic primaries. The president called the current Democratic front-runner “likeable enough,” a two-worded barb that was used against Mr Obama during the New Hampshire primary of that year.

The GOP candidates were asked to offer their own descriptions of Ms Clinton – in just two words. However, none of them – bar Rick Santorum who said she was “secretive and untrustworthy” (we’ll allow him the “and”) – could muster only two words, some even rambling on.

George Pataki said Ms Clinton was “divisive and with no vision at all” (seven words); Lindsey Graham called her “not the change we need at a time we need it” (11 words); while Jim Gilmore’s two words were “professional politician that can’t be trusted” (six words).

The first “secondary” debate was widely believed to have been won by former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.