To date, the 2016 presidential campaign so far has included boasted 20 debates, 12 for Republicans and 8 for Democrats, with 36 moderators questioning the candidates for more than 43 hours on national television.

During Over those events, the top 16 candidates have spoken totaled more than 320,000 words. That's about roughly the length of a typical "Game of Thrones" novel. Have they said Whether they’ve said enough of substance? That's still up for debate.

With debate season potentially over for the time being now, Military Times analyzed each of the 20 debate transcripts to understand how frequently here’s a look back at the frequency with which of key military and national security issues have been addressed during these events during from the past eight Democratic and 12 Republican events. A 21st debate, scheduled for Utah on Monday in Utah, was canceled after several candidates said they planned to skip it the event.

With debate season over for now, here's where the numbers stand:

74

Mentions of ♦ Times GOP candidates have used the phrase "commander in chief" by GOP candidates. Democrats have said it totaled only nine times.

24½

Average mentions of "war" at each debate. "Peace" averages only two mentions.

9

Questions about military veterans asked by the debates' moderators. There have been a total of about U.S. veterans.  at the debates, out of 1,444 questions asked. For comparison, the moderators have asked 46 questions about Syria.

Sgt.1st Class Cory Remsburg, an Army Ranger severely wounded by an IED in Afghanistan, flashes a thumbs up during the 2014 State of the Union address.

Photo Credit: J. Scott Applewhite, AP

11

Instances in which GOP front runner Donald Trump has said "we don't win anymore" in reference to the military.

56

The difference between overall mentions of ♦ Difference in candidate mentions of China (178) and Russia (122).

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping last November in Turkey.

Photo Credit: Alexander Zemlianichenko, AP

3

Instances in which Democratic front runner ♦ Times Hillary Clinton has mentioned Ash Carter. She is the only candidate to mention the current defense secretary.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter testifies before the House Appropriations subcommittee Feb. 25.

Photo Credit: Susan Walsh, AP

351

References to the Islamic State group — alternately known as ISIS and ISIL — by all candidates. The Republicans accounted for 249 of those.

9

Mentions of waterboarding in the GOP debates. The Democrats have not mentioned it once.

The American flag waves inside the U.S. military's detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Photo Credit: Ben Fox/AP

103

References to Instances ♦ Times Bernie Sanders has referenced "Wall Street" by Bernie Sanders.

8

Instances Times per debate in which the Democrats mentioned "Iraq" or "Iraqis." The GOP events average about just over six.

Iraqi soldiers stack up during an exercise at Camp Taji in February.

Photo Credit: Spc. William Lockwood, Combined Joint Task Force - Oper

2

Instances ♦ Times per debate in which the Democrats mentioned Afghanistan. The GOP events average about just over one.

286

Instances ♦ Occurrences of the candidates talking over each other during at the debates. The Republican candidates accounted for 78 percent of those.

30

References to the U.S. Army ♦ Times candidates have said "Army," the most of any the services. The Air Force had 18 mentions. The Marine Corps had 16. The Navy had 15.

Soldiers salute during the "Star Spangled Banner."

Photo Credit: Sgt. John Carkeet IV, U.S. Army

0

The number of candidates left in the race who served in the military.

Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.

Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.

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