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Donald Trump jabs Ted Cruz over his Canada birth Donald Trump jabs Ted Cruz over his Canada birth
(35 minutes later)
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has attacked Ted Cruz over his birth in Canada, saying it raised questions about his presidential eligibility.Republican frontrunner Donald Trump has attacked Ted Cruz over his birth in Canada, saying it raised questions about his presidential eligibility.
In the latest Republican debate for White House hopefuls, Mr Trump told his rival: "There's a big question mark over your head". In the latest Republican debate for White House hopefuls, Mr Trump told his rival: "There's a big question mark over your head."
The US constitution says the president be a "natural born citizen" of the US.The US constitution says the president be a "natural born citizen" of the US.
Issues of national security, the economy and foreign policy have also played heavily in the debate.Issues of national security, the economy and foreign policy have also played heavily in the debate.
As the event began in South Carolina, Mr Cruz opened by expressing disgust over the detention of US sailors by Iran this week.
And billionaire Donald Trump said he would secure US borders to keep out migrants who wanted to do the US harm.
In the polls, the pair are leading the four other candidates who are also on the stage in North Charleston.In the polls, the pair are leading the four other candidates who are also on the stage in North Charleston.
The debate comes just two weeks before the first real test of the campaign, when voters in Iowa pick their Republican and Democratic choices for president.The debate comes just two weeks before the first real test of the campaign, when voters in Iowa pick their Republican and Democratic choices for president.
Highlights so far:
Live debate updatesLive debate updates
Highlights so far:
The event hosted by Fox Business Network comes after days of Mr Cruz and Mr Trump taking shots at each other, shattering a months-long period of goodwill between the two men.The event hosted by Fox Business Network comes after days of Mr Cruz and Mr Trump taking shots at each other, shattering a months-long period of goodwill between the two men.
Mr Trump, a businessman with no political experience who has dominated the presidential race, has questioned whether Mr Cruz is eligible for president, because he was born in Canada. The start of hostilities began a week ago when the billionaire businessman started raising questions about whether the Texas senator's birth in Canada put his eligibility in doubt.
And the senator has responded by saying the hotel tycoon embodies "New York values", although he refused to clarify what that meant. But on the debate stage on Thursday night, Mr Cruz said there was "zero chance" of a lawsuit succeeding, because the constitution's definition of "natural born citizens" included people born to an American parent.
Mr Cruz was born in Calgary to an American mother and a Cuban father.
But the business mogul stood firm, noting that a Harvard law scholar had raised doubts and Mr Cruz could face lawsuits by Democrats wishing to challenge his qualification.
Candidates for US president must:
Does it matter where a country's leader is born?
Mr Cruz has been on the defensive over a New York Times revelation that he took a large loan from Goldman Sachs - where his wife works as a managing director - during his 2012 campaign for election to the US Senate.Mr Cruz has been on the defensive over a New York Times revelation that he took a large loan from Goldman Sachs - where his wife works as a managing director - during his 2012 campaign for election to the US Senate.
At the time, he maintained the campaign was financed by he and his wife's personal assets, and the loan was not disclosed on routine campaign finance reports.At the time, he maintained the campaign was financed by he and his wife's personal assets, and the loan was not disclosed on routine campaign finance reports.
Officials from his current campaign are labelling the loan's absence from the required documents as a "mistake".Officials from his current campaign are labelling the loan's absence from the required documents as a "mistake".
The other four Republicans on the stage will be former Governor Jeb Bush and Senator Marco Rubio, both of Florida, as well as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Ohio Governor John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson. A so-called undercard debate featured businesswoman Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Senator Rick Santorum, who have all performed poorly in recent polls.
A so-called undercard debate is under way featuring businesswoman Carly Fiorina, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and former Senator Rick Santorum, who have all performed poorly in recent polls.
Kentucky Senator Rand Paul elected not to participate in the undercard debate.Kentucky Senator Rand Paul elected not to participate in the undercard debate.
The BBC will be offering live coverage of the debate, which begins at 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT). The BBC is offering live coverage of the debate, which begins at 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT).