There was no lack of fireworks in the Republican debates Thursday with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie arguing with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Rubio going after Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and everyone on the stage launching attacks on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.
Here are some of the more memorable moments from Thursday night’s Republican debates.
1. Trump takes it to Cruz on "New York values"
While there were pointed exchanges and raised voices at times, it was a response from Donald Trump to an attack from Cruz that quieted the North Charleston, S.C. hall.
Without the usual bluster and in a quiet, measured tone, Trump answered Cruz’s disparaging remark that he, Trump, embodied “New York values.” After a minute of Cruz trying to explain what the phrase meant, Trump began talking about the city and it residents following the terror attacks on 9/11.
Recalling the aftermath of the collapse of the World Trade Center and the “smell of death” that hung in the air, Trump spoke to the spirit of the city as residents worked to rebuild Manhattan.
2. Carly Fiorina on Hillary Clinton
Carly Fiorina launched a shot across the bow with her first answer in Thursday’s “undercard” debate. Fiorina, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Sen. Rick Santorum met in the night’s first debate and almost before the two other candidates could be introduced, Fiorina went after Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Said Fiorina to gasps from the audience, "Unlike another woman in this race, I actually love spending time with my husband.”
3. John Kasich going after Bernie Sanders
Gov. John Kasich says if Bernie Sanders is the Democratic nominee for president, "we're going to win every state." The notion of Sanders as competition, Kasich said, is "not even an issue."
4. Trump on Cruz’s “birther” issue
Cruz found himself Thursday, as he has in the past two weeks, in the position of defending his qualifications to serve as president. Cruz says the attacks Trump has launched concerning his status as a "natural born citizen" have come about only becasue Trump has lost some of his lead in the recent polls.
‘The Constitution hasn't changed, Cruz said, referring to the provision that a person must be a natural born citizen to become president — "but the poll numbers have." Cruz was born in Canada of an American mother and a Cuban father. It is generally agreed by legal scholars that he qualifies as a natural born citizen, eligible to run for president.
5. Marco Rubio on Donald Trump and Ted Cruz’s back-and-forth over whether Cruz is qualified to run for president.
I hate to interrupt this edition of “Court TV.”
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