Ten leading U.S. Republican candidates participated in the third Republican presidential debate on Thursday in Colorado for more than two hours.
The CNBC-hosted event was critical for the candidates to reach their campaign's make-or-break point. The following are how the candidates fared, just a part from CNN's recap.
Regarded as one of the winners by CNN, Marco Rubio who was attacked by Jeb Bush for his poor voting attendance in the Senate, managed to handle the offensive.
"The only reason why you're doing it now is because we're running for the same position, and someone has convinced you that attacking me is going to help you," the senator from Florida said. "I'm not running against Governor Bush, I'm not running against anyone on this stage. I'm running for president."
Ohio Governor John Kasich attacked rivals with subtlety, and slammed what he thinks were unrealistic proposals.
"My great concern is that we are on the verge of perhaps picking someone who cannot do this job. I've watched to see people say that we should dismantle Medicare and Medicaid and leave our senior citizens out, out in the cold. I've heard them talk about deporting 10 or 11 (million) people here from this country out of this country, splitting families," he said.
Among the debating US Republican candidates in Colorado on Wednesday was Texas senator. He earned wild applause with how he tackled with the media. "The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media," which the audience approved.
"This is not a cage match," Cruz said. "And you look at the questions: 'Donald Trump are you a comic book villain? Ben Carson can you do math? John Kasich will you insult two people over here? Marco Rubio why don't you resign? Jeb Bush why have your numbers fallen?' How about talking about the substantive issues people care about?"
He said that questions from the media during candidates' debates are often targeted to who is the "more handsome and wise."
"Let me be clear, the men and women on this stage have more ideas, more experience, more common sense than every participant in the Democratic debate," he said. For that, CNN saw Cruz as a double-win. He attacked the media, which is a common enemy, while maintaining his image as a candidate without attacking his rivals, nearly defending them in fact.
While others fear he could be temperamental, Donald Trump was one of the US Republican candidates who kept his cool in Colorado. He was softer, more reserved and did not give much effort to put a show, even avoiding the personal attacks from competitors.
When asked by John Harwood about his candidacy as "a comic book version of a presidential campaign," he simply said it was "not a very nicely asked."
He did not go to "attack mode" but stated he benefits of his doable proposals. He touted his record by mentioning his business acumen, as an effective negotiator and highlighted that he is not supported by any special interest or outside groups.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said that instead of "fantasy football," they have to talk about the $19 trillion debt, unemployed populace, ISIS and al-Qaeda. As NBC News quoted him: "Are you fed up with how government wastes your money?... Are you serious about this election, because if you are, I'm deadly serious about changing this culture."
