Republican candidates slam Trump in Las Vegas debate

“Everyone understands why Donald has suggested what he has”, Cruz said.

“We have to decide whether or not regime change is a good idea”, declared Paul.

Jeb Bush: He gave a more assertive performance than prior debates and has a White House-worthy resume but still comes off like the middle daughter Jan from “The Brady Bunch” – always complaining about everything “Donald, Donald, Donald”. “He’s just fine. Don’t worry about it”.

It wouldn’t be hard for Trump to concoct a tale of GOP subterfuge created to sabotage his campaign to support a claim that he had no other choice but to pursue an independent run because he couldn’t disappoint his legions.

But somehow, the candidates – including Trump – stumbled into a thoughtful discussion about a deep issue: Is it better to overthrow dictators in the hope of spreading democracy, or put up with them for the sake of stability? Polls have come out recently that say I would beat Hillary. “In fact, I think we’re less safe”. Cruz, Rubio, and Cruz all clock in above 13 minutes.

Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz continue to clash over immigration, with the two senators repeating attacks they have been making on the campaign trail. “We’re talking about security”, he said.

A conservative US senator from Texas, Cruz has tried to avoid direct confrontation with Trump, but Cruz’s rise in the polls could make him a target for the combative billionaire at the nationally televised forum from Las Vegas due to begin at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday (0200 GMT on Wednesday).

Also appearing in the main debate are New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Ohio Governor John Kasich, U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky and former corporate executive Carly Fiorina.

“For God’s sakes, pick somebody who is worthy of the sacrifice of those who are fighting this war and who actually knows how to win”, Graham said, imploring Republicans not to nominate Trump. Cruz went farther than he has in the past, and said that as president, he would rule out legalizing the estimated 11 million immigrants who are living in this country without documentation.

A few takeaways from tonight’s Republican presidential debate on CNN…

Republican presidential candidates will gather here on Tuesday night to debate for the first time since terror attacks shook Paris and San Bernardino, California, and sent national security to the top of the political agenda. He added, “Leadership is not about attacking people and disparaging people”. But either way, neither candidate spent much speaking time going after Trump except to push back on details of his plan to bar all Muslims from entry to the United States.

Cruz called for using “overwhelming air power” to destroy the Islamic State, whereas Rubio said airstrikes would have to be supplemented by ground troops, including American special operations forces.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush countered by slamming Trump as a “chaos candidate” and defending comments in which he described the Republican frontrunner as “unhinged”. At another point, Bush told Trump, “You’re never going to be president of the United States by insulting your way to the presidency”.

Cruz denied that claim and said the law “strengthened the tools of national security and law enforcement” to go after the terrorists.