OPINION: Winners and losers from Detroit's Republican Presidential Debate
Six days before citizens of the state of Michigan vote in a statewide primary for President of the United States, Republican candidate Donald Trump went under attack from each of his three remaining challengers during a heated debate in the Motor City.
Here's how each candidate performed during what quickly turned into the anti-Trump show on Thursday night:
Winners:
Ted Cruz
The Texas senator had the best debate of his campaign so far.
Fresh off an important win in his home state on Super Tuesday, Cruz was strong in his persecution of Trump.
When Trump argued with freshman senator Marco Rubio, Cruz stayed out of the fray and talked about legitimate policy issues.
Cruz hit all his campaign's major policy points: religious liberty, protection of the Second Amendment and immigration reform.
I expect his poll numbers to get a little boost following tonight's showing.
John Kasich
Kasich put together a strong performance, yet his national poll numbers hover in high single digits.
As other candidates bickered over everything from Trump's business record to the size of his reproductive organs, Kasich acted as the adult in the room.
He spoke clearly and concisely. Kasich's common-sense approach to social issues and experience in federal government has gone largely overshadowed by the Trump vs. anyone media machine.
On Thursday, Kasich's best moment came when moderator Chris Wallace asked a leading question begging for an attack on Trump and Kasich simply replied "I'm not biting."
Losers:
Marco Rubio
Rubio, who is staring a critical primary in his home state of Florida in the face, struggled on Thursday night.
He almost immediately launched into an unproductive shouting match with Trump, who hammered him on job creation. Trump made a smart move attacking Rubio early on his inexperience in government.
Rubio had no legitimate retort for that attack from Trump, which came during the first 20 minutes of the debate — likely the best-viewed portion of the national broadcast.
Donald Trump
This was not Trump's worst night, but it was not his best either. He appeared flustered early and made a crude joke about his private parts during a spat with Rubio.
It felt as if Trump was constantly on the defensive for flip-flopping on policy issues and the pending class-acton lawsuit he faces for the Trump University scandal.
He eventually explained his change of heart on a number of issues as "flexibility" and never really answered questions about the legal battle he is in over Trump U.
It will be interesting to see how Trump's poll numbers are effected by Thursday night's debate, one he did not emerge as a clear victor from.
