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The GOP debate in three highlights

 
Marco Rubio, center, and Jeb Bush, left, argue a point as Donald Trump stands by during the CNBC Republican presidential debate at the University of Colorado in Boulder on Wednesday.
Marco Rubio, center, and Jeb Bush, left, argue a point as Donald Trump stands by during the CNBC Republican presidential debate at the University of Colorado in Boulder on Wednesday.
Published Oct. 29, 2015

Florida men fighting

The rising tension between Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio was apparent from the start. Rubio walked on stage and shook Donald Trump's hand. But when Bush walked out, he and Rubio skipped the formality. In the debate, Bush challenged Rubio on missing votes, noting he was a "constituent" of the senator and suggesting he should resign. But Rubio didn't melt, shooting back that John McCain missed a lot of votes when he ran for president in 2008. The crowd was clearly on Rubio's side.

Media punching bag

Attacking the media for liberal bias has always been smart politics in Republican primaries, and CNBC moderators Carl Quintanilla, Becky Quick and John Harwood struggled to control the chaotic night amid a torrent of criticism. The audience booed at pointed questions and cheered when Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and Chris Christie lambasted media bias. "The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media," Cruz said.

The night goes to Rubio

Marco Rubio had another command performance, his third straight. He was prepared and polished and stood up to criticism from rivals and moderators. He may have been the youngest candidate on stage (44), but it did not show and Rubio got some of the best applause lines. Rubio already had momentum going into the debate and may have convinced some big donors that he's legitimate. "My campaign is going to be about the future of America, it's not going to be about attacking anyone else," he said.