Cruz was debating last debate and never picked up on Trump changing the tone. Where does he get the mantle of a great debater?
Cruz is a champion in the Graeco-Roman wrestling style. These debates follow cage wrestling rules. That’s why he loses.
Cruz is not the great debater. There is just no “there” there, after all.
As a tactical campaigner Cruz can add and subtract, do the math, but he is not superior to TRUMP or Rubio in a primary debate.