CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — With the important caveat that not a single vote has been cast in any state firmly in place, the 2016 GOP primary increasingly feels like a three-man race. Last night, the trio of candidates at the top of the polls turned in strong performances; each man helped himself while dispensing and absorbing some hard jabs:

(1) Donald Trump: Though his performance was laced with characteristic policy ignorance and general incoherence (his answer on tariffs was especially bad, for instance), Trump had three shining moments that made last night’s event a success for him. First, his rejoinder to Ted Cruz’s “New York Values” barb — calling to mind New Yorkers’ magnificent response to the horror of 9/11 — was at once cutting and humanizing.  It was delivered with an air of disappointment, blended with the indignance of a man defending the honor of the city he loves. Very savvily played.  Later, when moderator Maria Bartiromo asked whether Trump could disentangle himself from and set aside his international business interests in order to prioritize the country’s interests as president, Trump gave what struck me as a deeply-felt, authentic answer: Sure, I’m proud of my company, and yes I’m very rich, with financial interests all over the globe. But if I’m president, that all stops. I’m in this for America. The presidency and our nation would be the one and only thing that matters to me. Even as someone who’s been very critical and cynical about Trump, I believed him here. A strong moment. Finally, Trump’s closing statement actually seemed prepared — even rehearsed! — for once. And it was very effective. He spoke of meeting with construction workers who were despondent and angry over the spectacle of Iran capturing and humiliating US sailors this week. In the post-debate spin room, the frontrunner said that “many people” had told him that last night marked his best debate showing of the cycle. Though he’s said virtually the exact same thing (always attributed to nameless others) after each and every forum this cycle, he was probably right this time.

Read the article “Analysis: Trump, Cruz, Rubio Pull Away from Pack at Charleston Debate” on townhall.com.