Last Thursday night featured the continual development of the RNC’s presidential leaders in a debate setting, this time in North Charleston, South Carolina. Though the debate did not lead to any substantial change in the polls, it is still worth observing who came out on top.

1. TRUMP: Amazingly, Trump has been able to get through debates without encountering any fatal blows to his campaign efforts.  Each debate it seems, he falls victim to fewer and fewer attacks.  Trump’s campaign continues to push forward, and it seems that there is nothing to stop it.  His defense to Ted Cruz of New York values in the face of the 9/11 attacks really solidified his victory in North Charleston.
2. CRUZ: The Texas senator continues to make progress in his campaign.  He was more than able to counter questions about his eligibility to run for president, and was able to deflect other criticism.  Cruz fell short of Trump as a result of his needless attack on the values of New Yorkers; Trump responded masterfully and prevented Cruz from gaining a decisive advantage.
3. CHRISTIE: Governor Christie was able to succinctly express his plans for presidency.  He was able to deflect criticisms and focus on the major issues.
4. RUBIO: At a time when the Florida governor really needed to present a captivating performance, Rubio simply fell short.  His performance was not bad, but it was far from spectacular.  He was able to attack Ted Cruz’s ever-changing political stances, but he failed to present himself as a truly viable candidate.
5. KASICH: The Buckeye State native was largely inactive throughout the debate. He spoke up a few times, but it was not enough to significantly change his position in the polls. Nonetheless, he remains an enticing candidate for vice president as Ohio is traditionally an influential swing state.
6. CARSON: This debate seemed to really show Carson’s lack of qualification for the presidency. His answers were confusing, and he really demonstrated his lack of expertise on foreign relations.
7. BUSH: Again, Bush simply failed to prove his qualification for the presidency. He attacked Trump again, but he simply was unable to achieve any significant advantage. It is likely that he will continue to fall in the polls.