So who won?
Telegraph writers' verdicts:
Barney Henderson goes for Jeb Bush
A very successful stunt by Donald Trump to skip the debate and steal the headlines. But, in terms of who won the debate itself, Mr Trump's absence also helped Jeb Bush shine - he was unburdened, light-hearted and seemed to have a bit of energy back. It's still a long way back for the self-proclaimed "establishment candidate" though. Ted Cruz failed to handle the increased attention on him. Another of Mr Trump's rivals had a good night - Megyn Kelly was an excellent host.
Rob Crilly calls it for Donald Trump
That was his easiest win yet. Rather than discussing Puerto Rican economic restructuring or being quizzed about his old, awkward liberal positions, he got an hour of prime time television to talk about his favourite subject - himself. It was a far more substantive debate with fewer ad hominem attacks. And far fewer people will have watched it as a result.
Hillary Alexander calls it for Jeb Bush
At last, Jeb managed to make an impression. Easily one of the most experienced candidates, with a proven track record as governor of Florida, he has until now been an abject failure. Yet on Thursday night he seemed to have finally got in to his stride. He attacked Marco Rubio, his former protégé, for his weasel words on immigration: when Mr Rubio accused Mr Bush of changing his views, Mr Bush laughed patronisingly and said: “So did you, Marco.” And he managed to rise above the Donald Trump circus. Statesmanlike. But was it enough?
Ruth Sherlock says Chris Christie
Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio dominated the conversation, but the discussion on immigration may have damaged them, showing them as being inconsistent.B ut the most memorable moment for most voters was probably when Chris Christie interceded in their policy discussion saying, "This is why you want to send people outside of Washington to Washington. I feel like I need an English dictionary" to understand policy jargon of the Texas and Florida senators. "You cannot hide behind parliamentary tricks" he said to cheers from the crowd. In an election where Americans are craving an outsider, it was a smart move.
David Lawler goes for Donald Trump
I tried to talk myself into a number of ways in which someone, anyone, who was actually on stage tonight won the debate. Jeb Bush put in his most assured performance, but in essentially embracing the role of establishment-backed moderate he will further alienate grassroots conservatives. Rand Paul was strong as well, but did not stand out enough to garner a significant boost in the polls. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio struggled under heightened scrutiny from the moderators and their rivals. Meanwhile millions of people tuned in to watch Donald Trump speak with no one to oppose him. Mr Trump was tonight's winner.
Robert Tait gives it to Jeb Bush
Without Donald Trump's domineering presence, there was no obvious stand out performer - and the debate was all the more substantive for that, if less compelling as a spectacle. Probably the biggest beneficiary of Mr Trump's absence was Jeb Bush, who stood out as mature, reasonable and - a rarity for him by the standards of recent debates - authoritative. It remains to be seen whether all that has come too late and in too devalued a setting (thanks to Trump's truancy), to matter.
Nick Allen gives it to Donald Trump
I was at Donald Trump's alternative event for veterans so, like many Iowans, I didn't see the debate. People there, Trump supporters, told me they couldn't care less about the debate going on three miles away. In fact they saw Mr Trump's no-show as further evidence of him thumbing his nose at "the establishment". As one Trump supporter put it: "I just love the way he does what he wants. It's awesome." So he's unlikely to lose a lot of support by not being there. Unless there was a stand out performance at the debate, and it sounds like there wasn't, Mr Trump gains most by not having been there and donating $1 million to military veterans instead.
nick allen @nickallen789 58m58 minutes ago
The Republican presidential debate began with a dramatic attack by Megyn Kelly on Donald Trump - entirely overshadowing the seven White House contenders on stage. Calling him 'the elephant not in the room', Kelly (left) asked Ted Cruz - Trump's nearest rival - what his decision not to be there meant 'to the people of Iowa'. Across town Trump had flown in on his private jet for a rally raising money for veterans. He used it to claim Fox had apologize to him and kept begging him to turn up - right to the last minute. The Kelly-Trump feud once again entirely overshadowed the candidates at the Des Moines debate. The included (from left) Ben Carson, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, all of whom are far behind Trump in the polls.
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump 45 mins45 minutes ago
