Businessman Donald Trump defended his boycott of the final Republican presidential debate before the first votes are cast in Iowa on Monday, leaving the seven trailing candidates to shine in his absence.
Skipping last night’s debate over a row with Fox News, Mr Trump said at a rival event he organised to raise money for war veterans that he had wanted to participate but could not because of the falling out.
Mr Trump’s six-month-long dispute with Fox over what he claims is unfair treatment by one of its presenters Megyn Kelly bubbled over this week when the network ridiculed him over his complaints.
“When you’re treated badly, you have to stick up for your rights,” he said, drawing cheers from the crowd gathered at an auditorium at a university in Des Moines about two miles from the debate’s location.
At the Trump-less debate, Ms Kelly, a moderator, addressed the controversy at the outset, calling it the “elephant not in the room.”
Asked what message his absence sent to Iowa voters, Texas senator Ted Cruz, Mr Trump's closet rival in the state's polls, poked fun at the businessman's propensity for personal attacks and stinging insults.
"Let me say, I'm a maniac and everyone on this stage is stupid, fat and ugly. And Ben, you're a terrible surgeon," Mr Cruz said, referring to retired doctor Ben Carson. "Now that we've gotten the Donald Trump portion out of the way…" The audience laughed and applauded.
Jeb Bush, who has borne the brunt of Mr Trump’s attacks in the past six debates, enjoyed his strongest and most confident debate.
“I kind of miss Donald Trump. He was a little teddy bear to me. We always had such a loving relationship in these debates,” he said.
The former governor used Mr Trump’s absence to jab the other six candidates at the stage for not wanting to challenge the businessman.
“Everyone else was in the witness protection programme when I went after him on behalf of what the Republican cause should be,” he said, appearing to be liberated without Mr Trump around.
At his event, Mr Trump said that Fox had been “extremely nice” to him in the hours leading up to the debate and even called him within minutes of its starting debate trying to encourage him to participate.
“They’ve wanted me there,” he said.
The property and entertainment mogul said that Fox “did apologise” but that he had to proceed with the event. He pondered whether it would affect his chances in the tight race in Iowa on Monday.
“Will it be a good thing? Will it be a bad thing? Will I get more votes? Will I get less votes? Who the hell knows!” he said.
The network later denied that it had placed multiple calls to Mr Trump and made no reference to an apology being made to him.
At the debate, it appeared at times that the businessman made the right decision to skip the event as the debate lasting more than two hours was dominated by substantive policy issues, not his strong point.
The remaining candidates turned on each other with Mr Cruz clashing with Florida senator Marco Rubio, who is trying to win over conservative and evangelical Christians in Iowa from him to finish in a strong third place that would springboard him in later state contests.
Without Mr Trump on the stage, Mr Cruz assumed the role of frontrunner and was subjected to some of the fiercest attacks.
In awkward moments for Mr Cruz and Mr Rubio, Fox played video clips of past statements by the two candidates that contradicted themselves and showed them flip-flopping on immigration.
Mr Bush, pushing for legalisation for the 11 million illegal immigrants, criticised Mr Rubio for supporting a pathway to citizenship and then disowning the plan when Republicans objected.
“He cut and run because it wasn’t popular amongst conservatives,” said the former Florida governor.
Mr Rubio tried to hit him back, accusing Mr Bush of changing his position on immigration in a book he wrote.
“You used to support a path to citizenship,” said Mr Rubio.
“So did you,” Mr Bush said, interrupting him, to applause.
Over at Mr Trump’s benefit, the businessman closed his fundraiser, boasting of raising more than $6 million for veterans - a claim he will be able to trumpet over the run-up to the crucial first election test in Iowa.
“With him, it seems like he is Teflon - nothing sticks,” said Mike Hulbert (59), an audience member as he left the auditorium.
“I would doubt it is going to be a negative but you never know how the people are going to react.”
