For the Record: Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Ted Cruz

After Trump referred to Cruz as “a bit of maniac” during an appearance on “FOX News Sunday”, the Texas senator responded on Twitter with a link to the hit 1983 song “Maniac” from the soundtrack of the film “Flashdance”.

Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has solidified his lead among Republican presidential contenders in the politically crucial state of Iowa, a new poll showed.

‘In honor of my friend realDonaldTrump and good-hearted #Maniacs everywhere, ‘ Cruz said in his tweet.

The video features the film’s main character, played by Jennifer Beals, a steelworker-cum-exotic dancer who falls in love with her boss, rehearsing an intense dance routine.

“He said it behind my back”, Trump said, before claiming Cruz does not have the right temperament and judgment for the job of president.

“The way he’s dealt with the Senate, where he goes in frankly like a bit of a maniac”. Look, I built a phenomenal business, I’m worth many, many billions of dollars, I have some of the greatest assets anywhere in the world. “You never get things done that way”.

Trump insists that Cruz’s judgement pales in comparison to his own.

Trump said party leaders need to “get used to” him being in the race, and he hopes that reports that Republican Party officials gathered recently to discuss contesting his nomination – even if he receives the required number of delegates – are incorrect. But assuming Cruz can win Iowa (at least), the calendar starts to look very favorable to him beyond February. “I mean, I can say anything, and he said, ‘I agree, I agree.’ But I think the time will come to an end pretty soon, it sounds like”.

The British Government’s belief was that “if we are going to see off the threat and ideology of Isil we have to work with our Muslim communities, not push them aside or make them feel alienated”, he stressed.

That tactic came unstuck somewhat this week after he was recorded at a private function calling Trump’s judgement into question over national security.

Ted Cruz has positioned himself as the “true conservative” in the race – even more to the right than Donald Trump.

Both polls surveyed likely Iowa Republican caucus-goers. Just like “The Apprentice” – gripping the first few few seasons, exhausted and contrived in the last – Donald Trump’s campaign is aging toward death, one reckless outburst at at time.

Cruz was quick to try to diffuse the tension with Trump.

Carson polled fourth in the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll at 11 percent, and third in Iowa at 13 percent in the Des Moines Register poll.

Sir Peter joined David Cameron, who earlier called the proposal to ban Muslims “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong”, and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who said “the only reason I wouldn’t go to certain parts of NY is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump”.