Rivals trade blows in Republican debate

The Republican candidates for president traded sharp blows over foreign policy and the future of the Supreme Court in an often unruly and chaotic debate.

After Iowa and New Hampshire, the race has now moved to South Carolina before the 20 February primary.

Front-runner Donald Trump repeatedly tangled with Texas Senator Ted Cruz and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in a series of tense exchanges.

The lively audience repeatedly jeered and booed the candidates.

As the candidates shouted down and interrupted each other, CBS moderator John Dickerson warned: “We’re in danger of driving this into the dirt.”

Mr Trump and Mr Bush clashed over the war in Iraq and President George Bush’s role during the 11 September attacks.

Jeb Bush responded robustly to Mr Trump’s attacks, a departure for the former governor who originally sought a “joyful” campaign.

“We should have never been in Iraq,” Mr Trump said.

“They lied. They said there were weapons of mass destruction. There were none and they knew that there were none.”

The Republicans had been looking for a fight before this debate even started. There was a sombre moment to mourn the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. That paved the way for an obvious opening question: who should nominate his successor to the Supreme Court? This president, who would try to appoint a liberal-leaning successor? No, cried Republicans.

On stage, Donald Trump was already out of step and said he was certain President Obama would make the nomination whether Republicans liked it or not.

From there, the debate almost descended into an all-out brawl with the billionaire at its centre. The frontrunner took every opportunity to set himself apart as the outsider, dismayed with the state of politics. He saved the bulk of his ire for Jeb Bush, who has been his target for months. But this time the former Florida governor was ready. He stayed calm and didn’t fluff his lines.

It meant Mr Trump came across more as the pantomime villain and the audience reacted accordingly, by booing.

This debate will not be remembered by stand-out performances. Instead, voters witnessed some of the most bitter exchanges of the campaign so far.