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US election 2016: Republican rivals mock Trump over no-show US election 2016: Republican rivals mock Trump over no-show
(about 2 hours later)
Donald Trump loomed large over the final Republican debate before the Iowa caucuses, despite not being on stage.Donald Trump loomed large over the final Republican debate before the Iowa caucuses, despite not being on stage.
His absence was mocked by his rivals, who tried to fill the space vacated by Mr Trump's boycott by attacking each other on immigration and other issues.His absence was mocked by his rivals, who tried to fill the space vacated by Mr Trump's boycott by attacking each other on immigration and other issues.
Mr Trump decided to withdraw after Fox News refused to drop debate host Megyn Kelly, whom he accused of bias.Mr Trump decided to withdraw after Fox News refused to drop debate host Megyn Kelly, whom he accused of bias.
The billionaire held a rally nearby, in honour of war veterans, that threatened to overshadow the debate itself.The billionaire held a rally nearby, in honour of war veterans, that threatened to overshadow the debate itself.
On Monday, voters in Iowa are due to pick their presidential nominee for each party.On Monday, voters in Iowa are due to pick their presidential nominee for each party.
Days ahead of that critical test, Mr Trump's absence on the stage in Des Moines was keenly felt by his seven rivals in the race to be Republican presidential nominee.Days ahead of that critical test, Mr Trump's absence on the stage in Des Moines was keenly felt by his seven rivals in the race to be Republican presidential nominee.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz addressed it with humour in the opening minutes by throwing mock insults at his rivals.Texas Senator Ted Cruz addressed it with humour in the opening minutes by throwing mock insults at his rivals.
"I'm a maniac and everyone on this stage is stupid, fat and ugly, and Ben [Carson], you're a terrible surgeon," he said."I'm a maniac and everyone on this stage is stupid, fat and ugly, and Ben [Carson], you're a terrible surgeon," he said.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush also poked fun at the hotel tycoon, his chief tormenter in previous debates, by saying how much he missed him.Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush also poked fun at the hotel tycoon, his chief tormenter in previous debates, by saying how much he missed him.
The debate as it happenedThe debate as it happened
Other highlights:Other highlights:
Elsewhere in Des Moines at the same time, Mr Trump led a raucous rally in honour of the country's war veterans.Elsewhere in Des Moines at the same time, Mr Trump led a raucous rally in honour of the country's war veterans.
"When you're treated badly, you have to stick up for your rights," he said, referring to his row with Fox."When you're treated badly, you have to stick up for your rights," he said, referring to his row with Fox.
Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Des Moines Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Des Moines
In the end they came to praise Donald Trump and not to bury him. Ted Cruz gave the billionaire frontrunner a mild jab at the beginning of his opening statement, but then he added that he was glad Mr Trump was running. Marco Rubio said he was an "entertaining guy". So this is what a Republican debate would have looked like in an alternate universe, where Donald Trump was still a reality show celebrity and a failed steak salesman.
After that, Mr Trump was largely ignored, with the candidates sticking to their talking points. The only bit of real drama came when Senators Rubio and Cruz were confronted with video clips of their past conflicting statements on immigration reform. With a few notable exceptions, all the candidates kept their balance and stayed on their talking points. It's as if the unconventional Trump's absence from the hall made everyone a bit more restrained and, well, political.
It gave former Florida Governor Jeb Bush a chance to point out that he, unlike Mr Rubio, is standing by his commitment to immigration reform. Who were the debate's winners and losers?
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also found a winning line, when he noted that he needed a "Washington-to-English dictionary" to understand the two senators. The broadcaster released a statement that said Mr Trump offered to appear at the debate if Fox contributed $5m (£3.4m) to his charities, but they refused.
Christie and Bush likely posted the best performance of the debate, but it's hard to see how Mr Trump - who made it through the night largely unscathed - didn't also come out on top.
The broadcaster released a statement that said Mr Trump offered to appear at the debate if Fox contributed $5m to his charities, but they refused.
Data released by Google after the debate suggested that search interest in Mr Trump still far surpassed the other candidates.Data released by Google after the debate suggested that search interest in Mr Trump still far surpassed the other candidates.
Many observers on social media thought the event was duller without the brash New Yorker.Many observers on social media thought the event was duller without the brash New Yorker.
But others remarked how not having his dominating personality to contend with helped other candidates to blossom. But others remarked how the absence of his dominating personality helped other candidates to blossom.
Some of the night's most heated moments were provided during exchanges about immigration. Some of the night's most heated moments came during exchanges about immigration.
Mr Cruz and Mr Rubio were both forced to explain video clips of previous statements that appeared to be at odds with their hardline campaign pledges.Mr Cruz and Mr Rubio were both forced to explain video clips of previous statements that appeared to be at odds with their hardline campaign pledges.
They then turned on each other, with Mr Rubio saying immigration was "the lie that Ted's campaign is built upon".They then turned on each other, with Mr Rubio saying immigration was "the lie that Ted's campaign is built upon".
An Iraq war veteran who came to the US from Mexico as a child appeared via YouTube to tell the candidates that "some of the comments in this campaign make us question our place in this country".An Iraq war veteran who came to the US from Mexico as a child appeared via YouTube to tell the candidates that "some of the comments in this campaign make us question our place in this country".
Mr Bush applauded Dulce Candy and said "we should be a welcoming nation".Mr Bush applauded Dulce Candy and said "we should be a welcoming nation".
The Iowa caucuses on Monday are seen as the first real test of the election campaign, and the beginning of a series of state-by-state contests to choose delegates for both Republicans and Democrats.The Iowa caucuses on Monday are seen as the first real test of the election campaign, and the beginning of a series of state-by-state contests to choose delegates for both Republicans and Democrats.
Unlike a primary, which is a traditional election featuring secret ballots on polling day, the caucuses in Iowa are meetings of registered party voters and activists where they discuss the candidates and then vote.Unlike a primary, which is a traditional election featuring secret ballots on polling day, the caucuses in Iowa are meetings of registered party voters and activists where they discuss the candidates and then vote.
More: How do US primaries and caucuses workMore: How do US primaries and caucuses work
Top Trump - Pit one Republican against another and see who winsTop Trump - Pit one Republican against another and see who wins