He demonstrated knowledge on one issue: trade with China. The rest was hand-waving and slogans.
His conclusion was so shockingly vacuous ("we won't do stupid things. We'll make America great again") that Maria was caught smirking.
Cruz was in command with respect to every issue, and won the birther showdown with Trump.
Trump foolishly brought the public's attention to Cruz before the debate with his silly birther attacks. With the additional attention, Cruz had his best performance so far.
The Luntz focus group agreed that Cruz won the debate.
The only thing that will be remembered about the “debate” is Trump’s comeback with the 9/11 story. Then Cruz smirking and grinning at him as he told Cruz he had offended New Yorkers. Cruz seems to have forgotten that he was raised in Houston, Texas, the great bastion of liberalism in Texas, a town that has a radical lesbian mayor. I did like Cruz, and of course I’ll vote for him if he gets the nomination (though I don’t think it’s gonna happen), but his constant invoking Ronald Reagan as his great example in life, when Cruz was in grade school when Reagan was elected, and his grinning and self-righteous “I’m smarter than you are” attitude is a real put-off. There’s really nothing to like about his personality. He reminds of a fast-talking lawyer because that’s exactly what he is. And enough of the bluejeans and flannel shirts when he’s on the stump in Iowa. Put on a suit and look like a professional and not a phony trying to pander for votes.