Donald Trump and his rival Republican candidates locked horns in the final debate before the crucial New Hampshire primary.
Donald Trump and his rival Republican candidates locked horns in the final debate before the crucial New Hampshire primary, under pressure to win after trailing second in Iowa.
The billionaire, who boycotted the previous debate, stood center stage determined to cement his lead in the local polls despite a significant number of undecided voters, leaving the race wide open.
"I actually think I have the best temperament," said Trump, kicking off the debate when asked about criticism from Ted Cruz that he would be too eager to press the nuclear button if commander in chief.
"I'm not one with a trigger. Other people up here, believe me would be a lot faster."
He was flanked by telegenic Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who presents perhaps the greatest threat to Trump's dominance, and evangelical conservative Cruz, who won the Iowa caucus election this week.
Next came three current or former governors, son and brother of two US presidents Jeb Bush, Ohio's John Kasich and New Jersey's Chris Christie, whose presidential dreams could be made or broken on Tuesday.
"When I'm president of the United States we're going to re-embrace all the things that made America the greatest nation in the world," said Rubio to cheers when asked if he had the experience for the job.
Christie and Rubio quickly traded blows disputing their relative experience for the job as they fight for the middle ground.
Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon whose fortunes have skidded him into relative obscurity, got off to an awkward start by standing in the wings and initially failing to walk onto the stage when announced.
Cruz also publicly apologized to Carson in person, calling him a "good and honorable man," after his team implied that the former doctor was suspending his campaign this week.
New Hampshire's famously independently-minded voters are proud of the role they play in the first primary that gives the winners enormous momentum going forward and can mortally puncture losers' ambitions.
The candidates have crisscrossed the state, holding town hall meetings, jostling with voters at restaurants as they give stump speeches, shake hands, pose for selfies and greet children.
But even if Trump does win the Republican primary, the eyes of the party establishment, appalled by his insults, incendiary rhetoric and lack of political experience, will likely focus on his moderate rivals.
The latest Quinnipiac University national poll released Friday said 30 percent of Republicans "would definitely not support" Trump and cited Rubio as the candidate most likely to win a general election.
If Rubio puts in a good performance at the polls, capitalizing on his strong third-place finish in Iowa, it will likely confirm him as the establishment candidate of choice for the nomination.
'Total disaster'His team has announced a string of new congressional endorsements all week, including former governors of Louisiana and New Hampshire on Saturday, projecting a sense of confidence and mainstream electability.
But if Bush, Kasich or Christie do well in New Hampshire, it will elevate them to contender status for the middle ground.
After accusing Cruz of stealing the Iowa caucuses, Trump took a swipe at Bush, whose mother -- former first lady Barbara Bush -- has hit the campaign trial with him in New Hampshire.
In New Hampshire, Trump commands 35 percent of support among likely Republican voters, a 21-point lead over Rubio on 14 percent, according to the latest 7News/University of Massachusetts Lowell poll.
But with nine percent undecided, there is everything to play for.
Rene Paquin, a middle-aged mobility instructor for blind people, said he thought this year's election was so important that he went for the first time to a campaign rally.
"In large measure, this has been such a wonderful year for us, because we've had Donald Trump who is an interesting character," Paquin said.
"He says a lot of things that people think but I'm not sure he is so well credentialed that we feel that he can carry our country as president."
A registered Republican, he said he was drawn by both Bush and Rubio, but had braved the snow to listen to Bush in Concord late Friday.
"I'm looking for someone with integrity, someone who's going to tell us the truth and someone who thinks that they can really make a difference," Paquin told AFP.