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Cruz challenge Trump to debate 'mano a mano'

Posted at 9:23 PM, Jan 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-01-26 21:23:33-05

Sen. Ted Cruz is challenging Donald Trump to a one-on-one debate, saying he and the billionaire can go at it "mano a mano" if they can't agree on a moderator.

Trump's campaign announced Tuesday that he's skipping the last scheduled debate with leading Republican candidates before the Iowa caucuses. Trump has criticized host Fox News and scheduled moderate Megyn Kelly in particular for what he calls "playing games."

At a campaign stop Tuesday in Fairfield, Iowa, Cruz accused Trump of being afraid of mean questions from Kelly and said skipping the debate was tantamount to refusing to be interviewed for a job. 

Riffing off Trump's famous rejoinder from "The Apprentice," Cruz said that if someone didn't show up for an interview Trump would say, "You're fired."

Cruz and Trump are running a tight race heading into Monday's Iowa's caucuses. Cruz says Trump owes it to Iowa voters to debate.