Republican 2016 debate: Donald Trump gets the most airtime — by a lot

The mogul racked up almost two minutes more than Jeb Bush in second place

Donald Trump addresses reporters following the debate (EPA)

Surprised? Donald Trump got the most airtime in the top-tier debate, racking up more than 10 1/2 minutes in total. Jeb Bush was in second, with less than nine minutes.

Those two dominated time in the debate, with no one else passing more than seven minutes in air time.

Rand Paul, perhaps the feistiest candidate on the stage — picking fights with Trump and Chris Christie — ended up with the least airtime, at around five minutes. He and Scott Walker were the only candidates who didn't get more than six minutes throughout the night.

Trump maintained the greatest amount of attention throughout most of the two-hour event, boosted at the beginning by a tense discussion when he wouldn't rule out a run as an independent if he wasn't chosen as the Republican nominee. Bush edged him out for just a short moment, but Trump, who came into the event with the highest poll numbers, quickly regained his lead.

The candidates mostly competed for time through questions from the moderators. At one point, Ben Carson, who was trailing in air time for a long time in the beginning of the night, thanked moderator Megyn Kelly for asking him a question.

"I wasn't sure I was going to get to talk again," Carson said.

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