GOP Debate Takeaways: The Trump and Cruz dynamic dominates

Donald Trump has called you not “natural-born” as prescribed in the constitution, Cruz was asked. “I want to win”.

Reporter: Now Donald Trump also told me after the debate that he’s not going to change his strategy for this campaign, but they will be spending much more time in Iowa just before the Iowa caucuses and all the candidates will get another chance to debate in two weeks just before the voting starts.

Cruz blasted Trump for only bringing up the matter because his poll numbers had fallen in Iowa, where the first nomination vote will be held on February 1. Sparks seemed likely just because of that timing, and that was long before we knew Trump would be questioning Cruz’s citizenship, Cruz would be fending off reports of unreported big-bank loans to his 2012 Senate campaign, and the rest of the unruly field would be nipping at the unlikely front-running duo’s heels. Rick Santorum met in the night’s first debate and nearly before the two other candidates could be introduced, Fiorina went after Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Trump largely won his battle with Cruz. Trump pointed out that Cruz could not do that anyway because it wouldn’t work, as the real-estate mogul was born in the U.S.

Voters in the group said Cruz “handled” Trump, and referenced the Texas Senator’s delivery as “eloquent” and “level headed”. His response drew applause from the crowd, forcing Mr Cruz to clap along awkwardly.

Mr Cruz has steered clear of criticising Mr Trump during his rise to the top of the national polls, but that ended during Thursday’s debate.

“Memo to Ted Cruz: New York Values are the heroes of 9/11; the cops who fight terror; and the people you ask for campaign donations, ‘ he said”. As he did during the debate, Trump urged voters to instead think about the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

“Oh I’m very angry”, said Donald Trump in regards to the direction the country is heading.

Sparks flew between candidates in North Charleston’s Republican Presidential debate- both on the undercard debate, and the main stage.

“On Tuesday night, I watched story time with Barack Obama, and it sounds like everything in the world was going awesome”, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said.

A Google snap poll showed viewers believed Mr Trump was winning the debate more than halfway through, with 32.8 percent backing him and 28.7 percent backing Mr Cruz. And with that the round and bout went to Mr Trump.

The other contenders were trying to focus their attention on attacking president Barack Obama. Trump was steadfast in wanting to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States.

Bush urged Trump to change his views on the issue. He said that Trump had dismissed the idea earlier in the race but now was suddenly concerned.

Moderator: “You’ve called President Obama’s executive action on gun control unconstitutional and insane”. “Not a lot of conservatives come out of Manhattan”, Cruz remarked, eliciting laughter and applause from the audience.