Why Trump Won Without Showing Up

First Read says Donald Trump’s move to skip last night turned out to be a brilliant tactical move for three reasons:

1. “The man who’s his closest competition in Iowa, Ted Cruz, had maybe his worst debate performance of the cycle. And a lot of it was due to the fact that he — not Trump — was the candidate with the target on his back.”
2. “Trump also won by not showing up because he avoided getting the same kind of brutal video montage that Fox News showed first on Rubio (with his past statements vowing to fight amnesty and an earned path to legalization — before backing the Gang of Eight immigration bill), and then on Cruz (on supporting immigration reform and a path to legal status). It was evidence to Iowa conservatives that NO ONE is going to get to Trump’s right on the issue of immigration.”
3. “Given it all, Trump got to protect his lead in Iowa and in the other early contests. Now it’s still possible that Trump could lose Iowa – due to turnout — but it won’t be because of last night’s debate.”

Dan Balz: ““The evening offered an almost perfect reflection of the state of the Republican race, with Trump occupying his own space and the rest of the candidates competing with one another to emerge as his principal rival. In Trump’s absence, the other hopefuls struggled with only limited success to distinguish themselves as the best of the rest.”