I thought Cruz destroyed Trump on the birther question, and Trump looked like a fool on it. However, Cruz did poorly on the "New York values" matter, and Trump did well on it.
It was the first time any candidate actually “tango’d toe to toe” with Trump and Cruz won hands down...pundits are sharing this as well when it comes to the birther issue.
I agree Cruz didn’t do so well on the New Yorker bit as Trumps response blew it up by calling 9/11.....However Cruz was right about New Yorkers historically, I lived on the border growing up and raising my kids.... we were all too familiar with the New Yorkers.
Ones view of that is determined by ones position going in, and how well one understands the law of citizenship at birth.
I think your take is the natural one, for you. In addition to "what" they said, Trump seemed defensive, Cruz was confident.
Most people will come away thinking the qualification issue is for kooks.