Republican Debate: Five Things You Need to Know from Thursday Night

Miami, FL - Candidates for the Republican presidential nomination successfully delivered a tamer debate Thursday, a feat that would have been more impressive if the bar wasn't set quite so low.

Although they managed to avoid references to male anatomy and belittling nicknames, sparks still flew at the University of Miami as the four candidates debated topics including Islam and climate change.

Current frontrunner Donald Trump set the tone with an uncharacteristically restrained performance. His competitors likewise pulled several punches, treading carefully around baiting questions that might once have enticed them to attack the billionaire businessman or one another.

Trump himself bypassed opportunities to attack, at one point observing, "I can't believe how civil it's been up here."

The debate comes five days before Tuesday's winner-take-all primaries in states like Florida and Ohio. Trump continues to enjoy a wide lead with 459 delegates, trailed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz's 360.

'There are two that can, and two that cannot'

Trump laid out the delegate math on-stage Thursday, noting the distinct advantage he and Cruz currently enjoy. While Florida Sen. Marco Rubio acknowledged his weak showing, Ohio Gov. John Kasich pivoted to the bigger picture, stating, "It's about more than numbers."

Asked what should happen if the candidates enter this summer's nominating convention and nobody has a majority of delegates, Kasich ducked.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," he said.

A brokered convention is considered possible, although Trump and Cruz both dismissed the idea.

Islam

Trump doubled down on comments suggesting he believes "a lot," if not all, Muslims harbor hatred for the U.S.

"There's something going on," he said. "There is a serious problem of hate."

He said the country has been too timid in attacking the Islamic State, calling to "take them the hell out" and adopt tactics better matched with the brutal acts IS has proven capable of.

Rubio spoke against painting an entire religious group with such a broad brush.

"I'm not interested in being politically correct. I'm interested in being correct," he said, adding the U.S. needs Islamic countries such as Jordan as allies if it hopes to defeat IS.

Kasich, too, defied Trump's characterization. He called on members of the "civilized world" to unite.

Many Muslims "can't believe the stuff they see out of people who have distorted their faith," he said.

Climate change

CNN moderator Jake Tapper touched on a little-visited theme in GOP debates so far, questioning candidates about the U.S. government's part in mitigating climate change.

Rubio questioned the premise, denying humans' role in the phenomenon (and, thus, government's role in fixing it).

"The climate has always been changing," he said.

Kasich countered that humans contribute to a warming climate, but government solutions don't have to be "job-killers." He also spoke in favor of renewable energy.

Trump subdued, Rubio sidelined

Ahead of the debate, Trump again cast himself as a "uniter" who could bring "millions" of new voters into the Republican party. His debate presence Thursday appeared calculated to drive that message home, introducing a calmer, less bombastic Trump.

Cruz was the only candidate eager to take him on directly Thursday. He repeatedly needled Trump on his rhetoric and grasp of foreign policy.

"It is not enough to yell, 'Muslims bad! China bad!'" Cruz chided. "You must understand the nature of the threat."

Left in the dust on his home turf was Rubio, who largely evaded the head-on collisions with Trump that Cruz seemed to relish. As a a result, the senator already trailing in the polls saw even less limelight on-stage in Miami.

Kasich, meanwhile, steadfastly stuck with his positive messaging.

"I wanted to raise the bar in presidential politics," he said in his closing statements.

Meanwhile...

The campaign for Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton continued to wage a counterassault via GIF, as it has during previous GOP debates:

Photos by Gage Skidmore via Flickr / Creative Commons