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| US Election 2016: Cruz and Rubio clobber Trump in debate | US Election 2016: Cruz and Rubio clobber Trump in debate |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio unleashed a barrage of attacks on front-runner Donald Trump in the last debate before a pivotal series of primaries. | Republican presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio unleashed a barrage of attacks on front-runner Donald Trump in the last debate before a pivotal series of primaries. |
| The senators sought to blunt Mr Trump's momentum after he won three of the first four contests. | The senators sought to blunt Mr Trump's momentum after he won three of the first four contests. |
| Immigration, healthcare and outreach to Latino voters dominated the debate. | Immigration, healthcare and outreach to Latino voters dominated the debate. |
| But like previous forums, the debate quickly dissolved into long periods of shouting and personal insults. | |
| Mr Rubio, who has come second in many of the recent contests, rolled out a series of stinging attacks against Mr Trump. | Mr Rubio, who has come second in many of the recent contests, rolled out a series of stinging attacks against Mr Trump. |
| "If he hadn't inherited $200m, you know where Donald Trump would be? Selling watches in Manhattan," Mr Rubio said in one tense exchange. | "If he hadn't inherited $200m, you know where Donald Trump would be? Selling watches in Manhattan," Mr Rubio said in one tense exchange. |
| Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News North America reporter | Analysis: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News North America reporter |
| At long last the Republican candidates have come to the realisation that Donald Trump could actually win this thing, but it may be too late. | At long last the Republican candidates have come to the realisation that Donald Trump could actually win this thing, but it may be too late. |
| For more than two hours Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz took turns throwing haymakers at the New Yorker. They attacked him on business record; they blasted him on past hypocrisies; they questioned his conservative credentials; and they criticised the lack of detail in his policies and his reliance on bluster. | For more than two hours Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz took turns throwing haymakers at the New Yorker. They attacked him on business record; they blasted him on past hypocrisies; they questioned his conservative credentials; and they criticised the lack of detail in his policies and his reliance on bluster. |
| "We're having a lot of fun up here, aren't we?" the front-runner quipped at one point. But the truth is that Mr Trump was on his heels for much of the evening. | "We're having a lot of fun up here, aren't we?" the front-runner quipped at one point. But the truth is that Mr Trump was on his heels for much of the evening. |
| The challenge for the men who would unseat the leader, however, is that the best time to bludgeon a candidate is before it's clear circumstances are forcing you have to act. In a campaign where authenticity is worshipped above all, tonight's fireworks could smack of the kind political expediency many associate with traditional politicians. | The challenge for the men who would unseat the leader, however, is that the best time to bludgeon a candidate is before it's clear circumstances are forcing you have to act. In a campaign where authenticity is worshipped above all, tonight's fireworks could smack of the kind political expediency many associate with traditional politicians. |
| Both Mr Cruz and Mr Rubio drew blood with their attacks, but Mr Trump will likely emerge unbowed. | Both Mr Cruz and Mr Rubio drew blood with their attacks, but Mr Trump will likely emerge unbowed. |
| Mr Rubio also criticised Mr Trump's failed online education venture, Trump University, and assailed Mr Trump for hiring foreign workers rather than Americans in his construction projects. | Mr Rubio also criticised Mr Trump's failed online education venture, Trump University, and assailed Mr Trump for hiring foreign workers rather than Americans in his construction projects. |
| Mr Trump shot back: "I hired tens of thousands of people. You've hired nobody." | Mr Trump shot back: "I hired tens of thousands of people. You've hired nobody." |
| The billionaire real estate mogul found himself increasingly on the defensive about his business dealings, his conservative credentials and his support for Israel. | The billionaire real estate mogul found himself increasingly on the defensive about his business dealings, his conservative credentials and his support for Israel. |
| In other debate highlights: | In other debate highlights: |
| The Republican road to the White House - in depth | The Republican road to the White House - in depth |
| Five ways Trump can still be stopped - Unlikely ways other Republicans can get out front | Five ways Trump can still be stopped - Unlikely ways other Republicans can get out front |
| What makes Super Tuesday super? - The long day of voting explained | What makes Super Tuesday super? - The long day of voting explained |
| The Republicans who hate Trump - Lifelong members of the party speak out | The Republicans who hate Trump - Lifelong members of the party speak out |
| The stakes have been raised for the candidates. Next Tuesday, known as Super Tuesday, millions of voters in 11 states will cast ballots in the Republican race. | The stakes have been raised for the candidates. Next Tuesday, known as Super Tuesday, millions of voters in 11 states will cast ballots in the Republican race. |
| A quarter of the total numbers of delegates needed to the secure the nomination will be up for grabs that day. | A quarter of the total numbers of delegates needed to the secure the nomination will be up for grabs that day. |
| Mr Rubio and Mr Cruz are under tremendous pressure unseat Mr Trump before his lead becomes insurmountable. He is current leading in 10 out of 11 states holding contests on Super Tuesday. | Mr Rubio and Mr Cruz are under tremendous pressure unseat Mr Trump before his lead becomes insurmountable. He is current leading in 10 out of 11 states holding contests on Super Tuesday. |
| Mr Trump has been extremely popular despite his controversial comments about deporting millions of undocumented workers and banning Muslims from travelling to the United States. | Mr Trump has been extremely popular despite his controversial comments about deporting millions of undocumented workers and banning Muslims from travelling to the United States. |
| After four primary and caucus competitions, Mr Trump has 82 Republican party delegates, Mr Cruz has 17 and Mr Rubio has 16. To become the Republican party's nominee, a candidate has to have 1,237 total state delegates. | After four primary and caucus competitions, Mr Trump has 82 Republican party delegates, Mr Cruz has 17 and Mr Rubio has 16. To become the Republican party's nominee, a candidate has to have 1,237 total state delegates. |
| Each party formally announces their presidential candidate at conventions in July, four months before the presidential election. | Each party formally announces their presidential candidate at conventions in July, four months before the presidential election. |
| Key dates to come | Key dates to come |
| 27 February - South Carolina primary (D) | 27 February - South Carolina primary (D) |
| 1 March - 'Super Tuesday' - 15 states or territories decide | 1 March - 'Super Tuesday' - 15 states or territories decide |
| 18-21 July - Republican convention, nominee picked | 18-21 July - Republican convention, nominee picked |
| 25-28 July - Democratic convention, nominee picked | 25-28 July - Democratic convention, nominee picked |
| 8 November - US presidential elections | 8 November - US presidential elections |
| In depth: Primary calendar | In depth: Primary calendar |