Despite Absence, Trump Dominates Twitter Conversation During Debate

Still, Trump’s presence was felt during the debate last night.

“I would note that the last four questions have been: Rand, please attack Ted; Chris, please attack Ted; Jeb, please attack Ted”, Cruz told Fox News moderator Chris Wallace after being asked a question.

In the event you are among those who tuned in to the Trump event, here’s the Republican presidential debate in 90 seconds via CNN. “No, he’s an anchor baby – Ted Cruz is an anchor baby in Canada”, Trump quipped, apparently referencing Cruz’s birth in Canada to non-Canadian parents.

Kelly naturally didn’t deny her comments and moved the interview along with a smile.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) (R) greets businessman Donald Trump onstage as they address a Tea Party rally against the Iran nuclear deal at the U.S. Capitol in Washington September 9, 2015. Fox host Megyn Kelly, who hosted the debate, enraged Trump when she called him out at a previous debate for referring to women as “fat pigs, dogs, slobs… and disgusting animals”.

Those numbers, likely lower due to the expected debate fatigue, are comparable to the December debates featuring Trump, and higher than the last debate on Fox Business News (though, admittedly, fewer homes carry F.B.N. on their cable boxes).

On Friday morning, CNN’s Brian Stelter reported early numbers from Nielsen: The debate got an 8.4 household rating, meaning that 8.4 percent of Nielsen viewers watching TV during the debate were watching Fox News.

“We explained that was not possible and we could not engage in a quid pro quo”, FNC said. Broadening his point, he said, “We have to stick up for ourselves as people and we have to stick up for our country if we’re being mistreated”.

“You have to stick up for your rights”, he said.

Cruz was put on the spot over his opposition to ethanol subsidies that support Iowa’s powerful corn industry – a position that has always been considered politically untenable for presidential candidates in the state.

On Friday morning Trump acknowledged the Twitter breakdown of candidates mentioned during the debate and tweeted, “Great Twitter poll- and I wasn’t even there”. Instead, Trump hosted a event to raise money for veterans nearby in Des Moines.