Mano a mano: Trump vs. Cruz – and Carly?

Some interesting sub-currents emerged this week in the American Presidential race after front-runner Donald Trump pulled out of the final Republican debate.

First, the candidate running second to Trump in the polls, US Sen. Ted Cruz, challenged Trump to a one-on-one debate, “mano a mano” later in the week. That challenge came during a Cruz appearance on a popular US talk show hosted by Mark Levin.

Trump hasn’t formally responded to the challenge, but one of the lesser-known candidates, Carly Fiorina, jumped into that fray a day later and upped the ante. Fiorina, who has struggled to gain visibility in the crowded Republican field, took to Twitter and offered $1.5 million to charity if she could join the mano a mano session on Saturday. A short time later she came back and upped it further, offering $2 million to charity if Trump would debate her during his special event opposite the Republican debate on Thursday.

Kudos to Fiorina for sensing an opportunity and jumping on it. Alas, Trump did not respond to her offer. There is no upside for him in debating a little-known (but highly capable) candidate.