In their fiercest showdown yet, Republican candidates for president turned on each other on Saturday night in a debate that ranged from torture to economic policy.
With several of those taking part in the deabte at Manchester's St Anselm College very much aware that Tuesday’s vote may be the last chance if they are to stay in the race, and with others hoping to maximise the momentum they already have, the seven contenders spent as much time attacking each other as they did targeting the Democratic hopefuls, or the government of Barack Obama.
In early exchanges, on everything from immigration, to foreign policy and even the use of eminent domain to force people off their private property, among the sharpest of the back-and-forths were between Florida Senator Marco Rubio and New Jersey Gvoernor Chris Christie.
In a part of the discussion about the so-called enhanced interrogation practice of waterboarding, Mr Trump said he would have no hestitation as president.
“I'll tell you what, in the Middle East, we have people chopping the heads off Christians. We have people chopping the heads off many other people. We have things that we have never seen before, as a group,” he said, The Independent reported on Sunday.
“I mean we studied medieval times. Not since medieval times have people seen what's going on. I would bring back waterboarding and I'd bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding.”
Mr Cruz said he did not believe waterboarding was torture but he said he was opposed to its use.
“Under the definition of torture, no it’s not. It is enhanced interrogation. It does not meet the generally recognised definition of torture," he said. “[But] I would not bring it back in any sort of widespread use. And indeed I’d join with Senator McCain in prohibiting line officers from employing it.”