Trump faces attacks at Republican presidential debate

Leading US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has come under fire from his party rivals as senior GOP figures and others try to lead an effort to stop the frontrunner.

Tempers escalated quickly among the White House rivals as in previous encounters during the eleventh GOP presidential debate on Thursday in downtown Detroit, Michigan.

Senators Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz strongly condemned Trump’s immigration policy and his use of foreign workers at his exclusive resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

Rubio asked Trump why he does not bring his clothes-making operations to the United States from China and Mexico if he is so interested in bringing jobs home.

The New York billionaire has repeatedly claimed during his campaign that he would bring back manufacturing jobs back to the US and has often criticized companies for outsourcing factory jobs.

Cruz requested from Trump supporters to change their allegiance. “I understand the folks that are supporting Donald right now. You’re angry…He uses angry rhetoric,” he said. “You’re not going to stop the corruption and cronyism by supporting someone who has used government power for private gain.”

The debate comes as the GOP field is quickly narrowing. During the first debate in August, 17 candidates were seeking the Republican nomination. Currently however, only three candidates remain and Trump is the undisputed front-runner.

Trump's surge toward the Republican presidential nomination following recent election victories has left his party in disarray and has given fresh urgency to efforts by Republican strategists and donors to halt his race.

Despite the GOP establishment's revolt against Trump, all three of Trump's rivals pledged at the presidential debate to support the party's eventual nominee, even if that individual is Trump.

Trump, who has repeatedly threatened the possibility of launching a third-party bid should he feel that the party is treating him unfairly, also said he would back whoever the party nominates.

Trump is facing millions of dollars in attack advertisements from a range of groups tied to the GOP political elite and conservative movement.

Since February 20, super PAC political organizations have spent nearly $10 million attacking him, more than it was spent against Trump in the eight months after his campaign began. 

Trump, who has never held elected office, is leading the race despite the fact that his campaign has been marked by controversial statements, including with disparaging remarks about Mexican immigrants and Muslims.

He created a furor in the US and around the world by proposing a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims” entering the United States, following a mass shooting in California.

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