Cruz Facing Increasing Fire As Front Runner At Debate

Sen. Ted Cruz at a recent rally in Iowa.

Des Moines, Iowa – During the recent Fox News 2016 presidential debate held at the Iowa Event Center in Des Moines, Texas Senator Ted Cruz came under increasing fire as front runner Donald Trump wasn’t in attendance.

Cruz, whose numbers have been slipping in Iowa, lashed out at Fox News moderators saying, “The last four questions have been Rand, please attack Ted. Marco please attack Ted. Chris please attack Ted. Jeb please attack Ted.”

A boo was heard rising up from the audience as Cruz continued to say, “Let me just say this.”

Fox News moderator Chris Wallace responded, “It is a debate sir.”

“No, no. A debate is actually a policy issue. I will say this, gosh, if you guys say, ask one more mean question, I may have to leave the stage,” said Cruz, which did garner some applause from the audience. “Chris, the most important determination any voter is going to make in this election is who is best prepared to be commander-in-chief.”

“I would suggest let’s stay focused on those issues rather than just attacks directed at each other,” he added.

The words between Cruz and Wallace started when Wallace didn’t allow Cruz to respond to a question that was originally directed at New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Trump, who is the Republican front runner, according to most polls, was not in attendance on Thursday night. He chose instead to hold an event on the Drake University campus, where he reportedly raised 6 million dollars for veterans.

Iowa Congressman Steve King (R), who has endorsed Cruz, spoke with Oskaloosa News about the fact that Trump wasn’t in attendance for Thursday night’s debate. King said that a large amount of undecided voters were “waiting for this debate and focused on it. The idea would be, get a bowl of popcorn, watch this debate, maybe take your notes, talk to your family, your neighbors. Spend the next few days doing that.”

“This Monday night, Iowa comes together and settles,” King said, and why the Iowa Caucus night results can be surprising.

Cruz then took a swipe at Trump, who wasn’t participating in the debate. “The caucus goers are going to say, I’m going to consider the people that debated. You’ve got to have somebody that wants the job. You don’t want a reluctant candidate for president, or one that throws a tantrum.

Before the debate, King predicted that, “You’ll see the other candidates turn their guns on Ted Cruz because Donald Trump won’t be standing there.”