DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Absent Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidates strained to take advantage of a rare opportunity to step out of the front-runner’s shadow in Thursday night’s debate – a staid, policy-heavy contest that offered a glimpse of what the GOP contest might have been without the unpredictable businessman.
Still, the candidates couldn’t resist mocking Trump, who boycotted the final debate before Iowa kicks off voting in the 2016 campaign on Monday.
“I’m a maniac and everyone on this stage is stupid, fat and ugly,” said Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is competing with Trump for the lead in Iowa. Cruz then thanked his fellow candidates for showing Iowa voters respect by showing up.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a frequent target of Trump, said with a wry smile, “I kind of miss Donald Trump; he was a teddy bear to me.”
Never one to go quietly, Trump held a competing rally elsewhere in Des Moines, an event he said raised $6 million for military veterans.