The Republican presidential candidates gathered on Thursday night for their first debate since "Super Tuesday."

Trump Against Romney

Thursday morning saw former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate, deliver a press conference denouncing Donald Trump as a viable candidate for the GOP.

"If we Republicans choose Donald Trump as our nominee, the prospects for a safe and prosperous future are greatly diminished. ... Here's what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He's playing the members of the American public for suckers. He gets a free ride to the White House and all we get is a lousy hat," said Romney.

He continued, "His domestic policies would lead to recession. His foreign policies would make America and the world less safe. He has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president and his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill."

Trump had his own press conference Thursday afternoon but addressed the 2012 Republican presidential candidate during the Fox News debate from Michigan.

"He was a failed candidate; he should have beaten President Obama very easy. He failed miserably and it was an embarrassment to everybody including the Republican Party," said Trump, adding that Romney is trying to remain relevant.

The Size of One's Hands

Marco Rubio and Trump debated about the campaign insults traded during the past week leading up to Super Tuesday, which included Trump calling Rubio a "lightweight" and a heavy sweater and Rubio commenting on Trump's tan, hair and hand size.

"For the last year Donald Trump has mocked everybody with personal attacks," Rubio said. "He has done so to people sitting on the stage today. He has done so about the people who are disabled. He has done it about with every candidate in this race. If there is anyone that has deserved to be attacked that way, it's Donald Trump for the way he has treated people in the campaign.

Trump said he will take back the "lightweight remark," adding "he's (Rubio) really not that much of a lightweight."

In regards to mocking Trump's hand size, the real estate mogul said, "I have to say this: He hit my hands. Nobody has ever hit my hands. I've never heard of this one. Look at those hands -- are they small hands? And he referred to my hands -- if they are small, something else must be small. I guarantee you, there's no problem."

Although Trump took back the "lightweight" remark, he still jabbed the Florida senator on his height, calling him "Little Marco." Rubio hit back with "Big Donald."

The name calling continued between Trump and Ted Cruz. While Trump's nickname for Rubio was "Little Marco," Cruz's nickname was "Lying Ted."

Flint's Water Crisis

With the debate taking place in Michigan, it was expected Flint's water crisis would be among the program's questions. During the second hour, the water crisis finally came up and was directed at Rubio.

"What happened in Flint is a terrible thing," said Rubio, adding it was a "systemic breakdown of every level of government" including state and federal. "The politicizing of it, I think, is unfair. Because I don't think that someone woke up one morning and said, 'Let's figure out how to poison the water system and hurt someone,' but accountability is important."

Rubio did give credit to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to taking responsibility for the water crisis but the issue should not be a partisan issue.

"The way the Democrats have tried to turn this into a partisan issue, that somehow Republicans woke up in the morning and decided, 'Oh, it's a good idea to poison some kids with lead.' It's absurd, it's outrageous, it isn't true," continued Rubio.

The other candidates were not given time to address the Flint crisis.

Immigration

As seen on Trump's campaign website, he opposes more visas for highly-skilled immigrant workers, believing such opportunities should be priority for Americans, but at Thursday's debate, Trump admitted his stance has changed.

"I'm changing, I'm changing. We need highly skilled people in this country and if we can't do it, we'll get them in. One of the biggest problems we have is people go to the best colleges ... as soon as they're finished they get shoved out. They want to stay in this country. They want to stay here desperately. They're not able to stay here. For that purpose, we absolutely have to be able to keep the brainpower in this country."

When asked about potential flip flopping on issues, Trump said there is a need for flexibility.

"I've never seen a successful person who wasn't flexible and who didn't have a certain degree of flexibility," said Trump, noting an individual encounters a learning process when becoming flexible.

He later said, "You have to show a degree of flexibility. If you're going to be one way and you think it's wrong, does that mean the rest of your life you have to go in the wrong direction because you don't want to change?"

Pledge to Support Trump

Near the conclusion of the debate, the candidates were asked if they would still support the Republican presidential candidate, specifically if that candidate is Trump. Cruz, Rubio and John Kasich maintained their stance to support the GOP candidate. Trump said if he doesn't win the Republican Party's nomination, he will still support the GOP's candidate.

Rubio said he will rather support Trump than have the next president be either Clinton and Sanders. He explained, "I'll support the Republican nominee ... Because the Democrats have two people left in the race. One of them is a socialist; America doesn't want to be a socialist country; if you want to be [in] a socialist country then move to a socialist country. The other one is under FBI investigation and not only is she under FBI investigation, she lied to the families of the victims of Benghazi."

"Yes, because I gave my word that I would, and what I have endeavored to do every day in the Senate is do what I say I will do," said Cruz on support Trump if the businessman becomes the GOP's candidate.

Kasich admitted it would be a hard choice to support Trump but he "will support whoever is the nominee for president."

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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