At 9 p.m. EST, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich took the stage for the 11th debate of the cycle.
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It will bring him face to face with presenter Megyn Kelly, whom he dismissed as a “bimbo” after they clashed in the first primary debate.
That’s the same line of attack Rubio is pushing as he tries to emerge as Trump’s chief rival.
Trump said it was simply business.
The debate hosted by Fox News began with Mr Trump being asked about an attack earlier in the day by Mitt Romney, the 2012 nominee, who accused the businessman of bullying, greed and misogyny.
Ted Cruz: Cruz played it smart at first by staying out of the fight between Trump and Rubio but he stepped right in later and didn’t come out the better for it. There is even increased speculation about about an 11th-hour attempt to stop Trump at the Republican convention this summer.
“Here’s what I know: Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud”, Romney said in a speech in Salt Lake City.
Rubio fired back: “You ask him a question about the economy and the first thing he does is go into the “little guy” thing”, Rubio said. So, if there’s anyone who’s ever deserved to be attacked that way, it’s been Donald Trump.
He addressed Trump’s economic policies, and criticized the presidential hopeful’s call for the deportation of Mexican and Muslims immigrants. “He wants to be back in the game”. “We have long referred to him as ‘The Donald.’ He is the only person in America to whom we have added an article before his name”.
Romney says a Trump nomination at the party’s convention in July would enable Democrat Hillary Clinton to win the presidency, according to excerpts of his speech obtained by The Associated Press.
He said he had changed his own mind to support admitting more highly skilled workers from overseas, saying matter-of-factly, “I’m changing”. Trump, in turn, said he would support whoever wins, though he seemed to find it inconceivable that it might not be him.
It was perhaps the most surreal moment in a presidential race that has already been dominated by unprecedented drama and personal attacks.
One of the most acrimonious United States presidential election campaigns hit a new low when Republican frontrunner Donald Trump referenced the size of his penis and assured voters that he was well endowed. That lead meant Trump’s biggest challengers – Cruz and Rubio – took off the gloves to go at the front runner.
The candidates are meeting two days after Trump dominated the Super Tuesday contests, notching seven victories and picking up hundreds of new delegates.
Polls show Trump leading in MI, though Cruz and Rubio are both campaigning hard.
With Ben Carson’s exit from the race this week, the field of Republican candidates has now been narrowed to four, including Texas Sen.
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It remained to be seen whether the debate would prove to be damaging to the Trump campaign.
