This is the answer to my question of who won the Republican debate:
I get everything here except the Ted Cruz part. Does anybody even remember his performance at the debate? I thought he was as insipid as Rubio. What is it that viewers could have liked about him? Not that I care since he has zero chances of being elected but I’m curious.
Clarissa's Blog 
What some people read as “smarmy” others read as sincere?
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Compare with this recent poll.
http://morningconsult.com/2015/08/trumps-lead-grows-after-debate-controversy/
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Trump is the only person who looked alive on that stage. Everybody else was a plastic doll, reciting the same old platitudes. Against that background, even his pouty, cranky idiocy looks refreshing.
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