News Analysis: Trump still leads among Republican candidates after latest debate

After Tuesday night's debate, bombastic billionaire Donald Trump remains the Republican front-runner in the race for the White House.

Against many analysts' predictions, Trump remains the leader despite being disliked by the Republican establishment. That's because he has tapped into a sense of anger and frustration among many of the Republican Party rank and file, which is something establishment candidates have failed to do.

Trump has made a number of statements in recent months that have brought him jeers from media, the Republican establishment and Democrats but cheers from fans who feel Washington is not listening to them.

To those voters, there is little difference between most GOP candidates and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. In their book, they are all Washington elitists, who can neither relate to nor understand people's fears and concerns at a time when some polls say the vast majority of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction.

In the days following the terror attack in San Bernardino, California, that killed 14 people, and in the weeks following the vicious Islamic State attacks on Paris, Trump sparked outrage among Democrats, media and the rest of the GOP by saying Muslims should not be allowed into the United States.

But that just made his rating go up. Indeed, many of Trump's followers say they find his candor refreshing at a time when, they believe, the country is infected with a hysterical atmosphere of political correctness.

During Tuesday night's debate, the controversial mogul fared well, and experts say he will likely retain his lead, at least for now.

"Donald Trump did well because he did not get drawn into all the bickering during the debate. He made his points and stayed above the partisan fray. There was nothing that happened that will push him off his top slot," Brookings Institution's senior fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.

Indeed, those trailing behind him spent much time going after each other rather than attacking Trump, perhaps being hesitant to tangle with a candidate who has a talent for what critics call trash talking.

Some experts said there was still a chance that Trump's opponents could catch up.

"Trump is not too far in the lead ... In key states like Iowa, he is facing considerable competition," Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told Xinhua.

"The playing field is very fluid," he said, adding that Florida Senator Marco Rubio continued to deliver strong performances.

Indeed, many analysts say Rubio is a candidate to watch. As a son of lower-income Cuban immigrants, he resonates with many Americans, as U.S. voters tend to want a candidate who they feel can understand their struggles.

If nominated, analysts say he could give Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton a run for her money, and could peel away part of the Democratic base, such as single women, who might vote for Rubio based on his youth and good looks. He could also peel away part of the crucial Hispanic vote from Clinton.

But for now, he still has to beat Trump, and his foreign policy experience and more serious policy ideas may not help him against Trump, who is adept at appealing to people's emotions -- and that goes a long way in U.S. politics.

In the wake of the recent terror attacks in California and Paris, Americans are looking for someone they think can be a resolute leader, in sharp contrast to U.S. President Barack Obama, who critics blast as waffling on the terror threat and not showing leadership.

Trump's lack of policy experience and what critics call ideas bordering on the ridiculous may not matter to voters.

West said the debate didn't change the status quo.

"Trump did well enough to hold his lead. (Texas Senator Ted) Cruz and Rubio are fighting to become the alternative to Trump. None of the others stood out of the debate," he said. Endi