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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 constitution mandates 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.
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.
Live debate updates Debate as it happened
Highlights so far: Highlights:
Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington
The sixth Republican presidential debate was the political equivalent of a wrestling "battle royale", where fists fly, chairs are thrown, the crowd cheers and the referees flee for safety.
There could have been no clearer indication that the Cruz-Trump honeymoon is over. The two candidates who stand atop the Republican presidential opinion polls had exchanged warm words through much of the campaign, but with the Iowa caucuses just two weeks away, the niceties have melted away.
They exchanged barbs over Mr Cruz's Canadian birthplace and Mr Trump's alleged liberal "New York values".
From there, numerous side fights broke out. Rubio v Christie over Mr Christie's tenure as New Jersey governor. Trump v Kasich, Rubio v Bush on trade. Rubio v Cruz on immigration. Each candidate could boast a strong moment or two, but each also felt the sting of their competitors' barbs.
A battle royale is supposed to end when only one participant is left standing. In Charleston, however, all the candidates survived - but all were bloodied.
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.
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.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.
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.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.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.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:Candidates for US president must:
Could a Canadian be US president?Could a Canadian be US president?
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.
Officials from his current campaign are labelling the loan's absence from the required documents as a "mistake".
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 featured 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 is offering live coverage of the debate, which begins at 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT).