Viewers of Tuesday night’s Republican presidential debate could be forgiven if they thought they were watching two separate debates at once, not even counting the undercard. The primetime event was split into a competition between Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz on the one hand and Donald Trump versus almost everyone else on the other.

Those are also the dynamics of the GOP race as 2015 comes to a close and the Iowa caucuses beckon. You either believe that Trump’s massive lead is real and as enduring as it has appeared to be since this summer, or you think — perhaps hope — that the reality TV star will yet implode.

Recommended Stories

Netanyahu and his opponent both spin election as victory as results trickle in

South Carolina polling has Andrews and Graham neck-and-neck in final sprint to Election Day

At least 30 dead in crash between 2 trains in central Spain