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US election 2016: Republican rivals mock Trump over no-show US election 2016: Republican rivals mock Trump over no-show
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump has been mocked by his Republican rivals at a televised debate in Iowa, after quitting the event in a row with Fox News.Donald Trump has been mocked by his Republican rivals at a televised debate in Iowa, after quitting the event in a row with Fox News.
He decided to withdraw after the broadcaster refused to drop host Megyn Kelly, whom Mr Trump accused of bias.He decided to withdraw after the broadcaster refused to drop host Megyn Kelly, whom Mr Trump accused of bias.
The debate began with his rival Senator Ted Cruz marking his absence by throwing mock insults at the others.
The billionaire businessman held a charity rally nearby, in honour of the country's war veterans.The billionaire businessman held a charity rally nearby, in honour of the country's war veterans.
But his absence on the stage in Des Moines, where seven of his rivals in the race to be Republican presidential nominee, was keenly felt. Voters in Iowa on Monday are due to pick their presidential nominee for each party.
Mr Cruz addressed it with humour in the opening minutes of the debate. But his absence on the stage in Des Moines was keenly felt by his seven rivals to be Republican presidential nominee.
"I'm a maniac and everyone on this stage is stupid, fat and ugly, and Ben [Carson], you're a terrible surgeon," he said, doing an impression of his absent rival. 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.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush also poked fun at the billionaire businessman, who has often tormented Mr Bush in previous debates.Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush also poked fun at the billionaire businessman, who has often tormented Mr Bush in previous debates.
"I kind of miss Donald Trump; he was a teddy bear to me," he said with smile."I kind of miss Donald Trump; he was a teddy bear to me," he said with smile.
Follow the debate Follow the latest in the debate
Other highlights:Other highlights:
Voters in Iowa on Monday are due to pick their presidential nominee for each party.
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.
"We have to stick up for ourselves as people and we have to stick up for our country if we're being mistreated." 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 missed the brash New Yorker but others remarked how not having his dominating personality to contend with was a positive. Many observers on social media thought the event was duller without the brash New Yorker.
In polls, Mr Trump is currently leading the Republican pack in Iowa with 33.2% of the vote (6.5 percentage points above his nearest rival, Texas Senator Ted Cruz), and is in the lead nationally with 36.2% (16.8 points over Mr Cruz). But others remarked how not having his dominating personality to contend with helped other candidates to blossom.
The Republican field is a wide one, and a debate undercard featuring four of the lowest-polling candidates was held earlier on Thursday evening. Immigration was a central issue of the debate.
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.
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".
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 chose 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 chose delegates for both Republicans and Democrats.
Unlike a primary, which is a traditional election featuring secret ballots on polling day, the caucuses in Iowa is a meeting 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 is a meeting 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