Fractured field for big GOP Iowa debate

The sixth Republican presidential debate is underway.

Trump, who has proven to be a master at finding a perceived weakness in an opponent, has made an increasing issue of Cruz’s Canadian birth, suggesting it violated the U.S. Constitution’s requirement that only “natural born citizens” can be president.

The not-ready-for-prime-time debate was down to just three lower-polling candidates, including the last two winners of the Iowa caucuses, former Sen.

Cruz was also on the defensive about his failure to disclose on federal election forms some $1 million in loans from Wall Street banks during his 2012 Senate campaign.

“Because it is so close between them in Iowa, Cruz may end up being more aggressive towards Trump and throw a couple of sharp elbows”, he said.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has emerged as a frequent critic of Trump, urged the front-runner to reconsider the policy.

“Wherever you’re sitting, I’m a friend, we’re friends, that’s good”, he said, adding he wasn’t offended by her speech.

Rubio and Trump’s chances are both at 32%, with Ted Cruz in third place at 27%. “If we do not know who you are and we do not why you are coming, when I am president you are not getting into the United States of America”, he said. Trump began speaking out last week about Cruz’s eligibility to be president.

While those two anti-establishment candidates battle each other, four other candidates are fighting to become the more mainstream Republican alternative. Tonight marks the first Republican debate of 2016, which is being held in North Charleston, South Carolina.

The Republican divide has given definition to a race that has been otherwise unwieldy and chaotic.

By picking Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, GOP leaders – who reportedly green-lighted her speech – were effectively announcing they had had it with Trump’s toxic brand of ethno-nationalism.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has been among the few establishment Republicans jabbing Trump in recent weeks – a fact his campaign is quick to point out.

“Yes”, Bush said when asked if a pipeline or electric transmission line was an appropriate use for eminent domain. “We need to take our country back”.

Those conditions are when “the job creators get very comfortable”, he said, saying Washington, D.C., is just the opposite. For participation in the 6 p.m. debate, “candidates must have received a minimum 1 percent support as determined by at least one of the most recent national polls”.

Trump and Cruz will be joined on the debate stage by Florida Sen.

Christie is enjoying a burst of support in New Hampshire, where he’s devoted significant time to courting the state’s blend of moderate and libertarian voters.

Time: The kiddie table / undercard debate starts at 6pm ET, the main event at 9pm. The Kentucky senator didn’t qualify for tonight’s primetime debate, and refused to take part in the less prestigious “happy hour” debate that wrapped earlier in the evening.

The tight calendar is fueling new tensions in the race, with Trump trying to knock Cruz down a peg as the Texas senator challenges the billionaire businessman for the Iowa lead, as several candidates in the tier below them step up their attacks on virtually any rival near them in the polls.

A shrinking field of top-tier GOP candidates will face off at Thursday night’s 2016 debate – the penultimate such event before the Iowa caucuses – and, for many of them, it will be a make-or-break moment.