Republicans Barely Mention Israel at GOP Debate

Anti-Muslim rhetoric: When CNN host and moderator Wolf Blitzer pressed Trump on his recent anti-Muslim rhetoric, including his statement that all Muslims should be barred from emigrating to the United States, Trump defended his stance by arguing that “our country is out of control” and “people are pouring across the southern border”. It took place in an event dominated by terrorism and national security issues. Rubio, interestingly, attacked what Cruz supporters perceive as a strength, his strident conservatism, in questioning his votes to end National Security Agency collection of Americans’ phone metadata, along with his immigration positions.

Mr Cruz and Mr Rubio have been sparring from afar over national security for weeks.

A conservative USA 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).

“If you’re a threat to him, he’ll go after you”, Republican strategist Rick Wilson said of Trump.

Graham added that the approach Trump is taking “is killing the Republican Party”.

Jeb Bush answers a question during the CNN Republican Presidential Debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on September 16, 2015.

“Just two months ago he said that Hillary Clinton would be a great negotiator with Iran”, Bush said.

The GOP frontrunner mocked Bush for his poll numbers during Tuesday’s debate in response to Bush’s policy attacks. “I understand that Marco wants to raise confusion”, Cruz charged.

With their back-and-forth, Cruz and Rubio left it to Jeb Bush and other GOP candidates to take on the front-running Trump. Marco Rubio showed little sign he was concerned about Bush, considered his chief Republican opponent not long ago.

This opened the door for Cruz, a former debate champ and Texas solicitor general, to go after Rubio’s Gang of Eight compromise immigration legislation, which included a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Ted Cruz, were unexpectedly nice to him. (Sorry.) “I am totally committed to the Republican party”, Trump said as the festivities were concluding.

That enthusiasm wasn’t lost on Rubio’s opponents, drawing take-downs from Cruz and Sen.

“You’re not going to insult your way to the presidency”, Bush told Trump.

Trump said, “Oh, I know. It’s like purple unicorns, they never exist”.

And New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie slammed the trio of senators – Cruz, Paul and Rubio – as unable to see the big picture.

Trump’s debate performance was like that of his first four – not particularly splashy. His bill would suspend for three years welcoming refugees from countries where the Islamic State has a large footprint. His strongest moment might have been asserting that Trump’s proposals to close part of the Internet and kill ISIS family members violated the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions.