Frontrunner was conspicuously absent. Dominating the news cycle for months, donald trump was in the headlines, skipping the g. O. P. Debate just as he said he would do, but the billionaires promise became promising for some of his political rivals, capitalizing on trumps absence by getting more face time for themselves. Im a maniac, and everyone on this stage is stupid, fat and ugly, and ben, youre a terrible surgeon. Now that weve gotten the donald trump portion out of the way trump, instead, holding a counter rally just a few hours down the road in des moines, raising money for veterans and it was no coincidence that it began the exact same time that would take center stage. I didnt want to be here. I have to be honest. When youre treated badly, you have to stick up for your rights rights. The political pop twist did not end there. Santorum joined something the moderators pressed them about right off the top. If i can help raise money for veterans and the answer was yes, i would, and so im going. Trump said that the event sold out very quickly and donald trump at the end thought event, proclaiming that he raised more than 5 million and then kind of upping the ante saying closer to 6 million for these veterans organizations, organizations, by the way that we still dont know by name unless theyve gone up on their website since the last time ive checked. Bob . Donald trump was quick to point out that the hall was packed but they were not all packed with Trump Supporters and he had a few protesters there, didnt he . Ill tell you tell what, for full disclosure, i was more tuned in to the fox news debate and thats where we are right now, of course, and i was keeping a close eye for donald and i did see one instance in protesters got rather boisterous and what was interesting was the crowd inside the hall there at Drake University really turned on these protesters with these loud trump chant, basically, you know, pushing them out. Donald trump took the opportunity to talk about freedom of speech and how he enjoys these protesters, but the expression on his face kind of told a different story, bob. Joel aldman always good to talk to you. Why not turn to our political panel. Carl jackson, political analyst and radio show host and, of course, our people rhetta and carl, great to have you here. Carl, let me start with you, and this is not a political statement at all , but it is a little bit like when at school work the bully doesnt show up, you get an awful lot of work done when the bully is not. They got into a lot of topics tonight at the debate without trump center stage. They really did. Them and i think it benefited rubio and i think so far, thinking about the debate, i think he probably had the best night quite frankly. Cruz, i think he had a couple of slipups at the beginning, and arguing with chris wallace. I think he should have never gone out there but he gave some great answers on oil subs tease and subsidies, and ethanol subsidies, im sorry, but the you have candidates, chris christie, jeb bush even came alive but i think donald trump, he didnt hurt himself and quite frankly, i think it was a smart move on his part. If i were him and i was the lead guy, i wouldnt go to the last debate before iowa, if i didnt need it and they were going to beat up on me. So i dont think it was about making whatsoever, i think it was strategic. I dont think he wanted to be shown up, if you will, by rubio or cruz, and i think technically was a smart move. Will it benefit him . Yeah, that i do not know. Trump may come noon tomorrow and say how does it feel to be me because without donald there, ted cruz is taking all the beating, wasnt he . He really was, and actually, you know, without trump there, the issue were so, instead of the in septuplets, the insults they talked about tonight and that was excellent. We got through an awful lot without getting into, you know, canada. Thats one thing we didnt discuss at all tonight, greta. Thats right. Carl, who do you think is going to be dropping out of this at this point . Who has aa lousy night and caucus . Ive got to tell you will, without donald trump being there i wouldnt drop out. If i were any of them, i wouldnt drop out, unless my numbers are solo. The only one that i feel maybe in trouble is rand paul, quite frankly, i think he did much better tonight when it comes to liberty. He just does not have the president , and he doesnt have an endearing factor that his father has. He always seems annoyed but if all of these guys stay in, they can actually gain more delegates in the long run. So im just not sure who is going to drop out. It all depends on what happens monday night after the ohio iowa caucus f. Their numbers stay low, then i suspect people, maybe kasich, or someone like that, may drop, if their numbers actually, i take that back, because kasich going to do well. Bob. Hard one to call echt i want to find out more. Drop out . I think john kasich. I think well see his Campaign Suspended pretty soon. I also thought that ran would be dropping out soon, but actually, he had a really good reform. Question. You know, they all have their chance now without donald trump there to make their case and hopefully, they took advantage we want to check in with our Political Editor craig patrick, and craig, i have to admit, during the debate, i took a moment to switch over and see what donald trump was doing, and at his event and without donald trump there, what was the i dont know, the vibe in the room, if you will . The energy of this debate . Funny you should mention the word energy. I think we saw a much stronger performance and energy by jeb bush. And i think for jeb bush, this was his wonderful life moment, a chance to see what it would be like without jeb bush. We saw an emergence of jeb bush and a stronger performance that we have not seen in prior debates in the absence of donald trump and with, this i think jeb bush may score a couple of points, not necessarily in iowa where he hasnt concentrated as much of his energy but more so in the state of new hampshire, and with this, it may be may be points that bush scored tonight, it may keep him in the game a little longer. I think youre right. I think perhaps we lost some theatrics tonights, and i think the iowa voters gained, the other candidates and could make an informed opinion. Rhetta, carl, and my friend craig patrick, we appreciate you so much. Thank you, bob. Thank you. We do have breaking news from orange county. The search is on after a machine is shot in his home. It happened this evening on 48th and hanes circle. Suspected shooter walked up to the home and pulled a gun on jose gonz lez. He was shot once in the shoulder and the suspect took off with a getaway driver. All of this stemsses from a sort sort of dispute. And and developing tonight ahigh school coach from a Christian School accused of stealing money from his team. Money they were going to use he is charged with grand theft and deputies say he stole money from students. It was a weird day outside of Christian Academy and deputies say they arrested assistant basketball coach jim morris. The schools Front Office Administrator is collecting money for a senior cruise and graduation fees but they discovered that he collected some of the money instead. Arrested however, the payments werent given to the school. We talked to a neighbor who lives near the suspect as a parent, its hard to see someone there, but i mean what can you think . We to tra tried contacting administrateives at the school. A total of 1200 12040, a School Administrator discovered what happened after a parent told her that she was able to pay morris. She told deputies she did not have permission to do that. Thats the only thing you can well keep him in our prayers. His uncle did not want to talk to us on camera. However, he did tell us that morris had problems in the past n. Orange count a, valerie bow aep, fox 35 news. Thank you. The county Sheriffs Office released new video today. Investigators, rather, say that its gonzales and her boyfriend to use a stolen credit card. Reporter they have both admitted to going on a twoday shopping spree. The boyfriend is still locked up. Gonz lez has bonded out of jail. Shes the woman who sued anthony for defamation. A woman tried to rob the regents bank. The bank alarm was activated and the woman was arrested without incident. Zero tornados sweeping through residents with power outages, along hempstead boulevard, and the tornado bringing 65 to 85 mileperhour winds. No structural damage or injuries being reported at this time. If i open the bus door, almost got sucked out. But i grabbed the door and we both grabbed the store and we closed the door. So we were safe. We were okay. And the National Weather service, not sending a survey team because we have enough evidence to determine that it was a tornado. Bob . Andrea, thank you. John morgan helps with the issue of put the issue of medical marijuana back on the ballot. Well talk to morgan about what it took to get the issue of medical marijuana before voters. And why one Central Florida man is thankful that medical marijuana will be up for the voters to decide. And a fight over where stew house the homeless in one up. Whats being done now to get them off the streets. Brooks . Reporter were continuing to watch the rain move east over the atlantic ocean, clearing most people who sign up for Health Insurance on healthcare. Gov qualify for financial help to make coverage more affordable, lowering their monthly premiums. Many find low premium plans for less than 75 dollars a month. If you dont sign up, you have to pay a penalty of 695 or more. Your last chance to enroll is remained, camped outside every an Administration Building at Daytona Beach. Fox 35s Tiffany Teasley is in diety bait thats heating up. The city had a goal to try to get the homeless relocated by tomorrow, but still, nothing has been set in stone and until a permanent solution is reached, some local groups are trying to fight back. Many of the homeless came here tonight to the Masters Domain Church of god in christ to get inside and have a warm meal. Its a great place to come in and get warm for a minute and you know, have a hot meal. City officials continue to try and work to set up temporary shelters for the homeless through local nonprofit groups, but nothing has been finalized and many of them remain camped out on beetch street. In the meantime, others in the community are now stepping up to try and meet the needs of the homeless in the interim. And and along with the Homeless Community and other churches to really be able to pastor harris of the Masters Domain Church open up his doors to the homeless earlier in the week and many other faithbased groups and nonprofits are also beginning to step forward. Well, weve been waiting for the buzz buses. We had the doors open and we had the heat on for them to be able to come inside so they wouldnt have to endure the elements. Its a Faithbased Community getting together and theyre coming up to the camp and soup. Were told theyre supposed to be meeting tomorrow with the urban ministries to try to get another shelter set up. Reporting from Volusia County, Tiffany Teasley, fox 35 news. And a big win tonight for orlandos big time lawyer. Its official, medical marijuana is going to be back on the ballot in november, just like it was two years ago. Itll be a amend, too, and misnews in one Central Florida mother is very glad to tell them no she believes medical marijuana may be a matter of brandon. For him, seizures like this one are a daily occurrence. Come on, buddy. Okay. Thats okay, brandon. That could be your child. That could be your loved one. Imagine if it was, what would you do . What she has done is fight. She became an out spoken voice for medical marijuana in florida cofounding the were a group of moms that came together to fight for our children, but not just ours, for everyone elses children, and all those who are in need of this medicine. Reporter shes confident that 2016 is the year florida will join more than 20 other states that allow medicinal cab nis. This year, they announced it has enough sition to put it on the November Ballot in 2014, shy of the needed 60 to pass. Though it did receive more votes than either candidate for governor. For the money that im puting into this, if this happens, my return on this in investment, i wont get anything like this in my life. Millions of people for the rest of my life. And so its important to me, because ive seen knit my own family. I know that it works. Its going to take compassion and its going to take an open mind and an open heart because people are suffering. People like her son brandon. Were not going to let down those who are suffering and im not going to let down my son, so its happening. Jack cascio, fox 35 news. And a forecast and were hitting, you know, an all important weekend forecast is coming up here. Take your umbrella, because i know youve had it and brought it to work. Take your umbrella and sit it by the door. You wont need it for the next few days. Take a live look outside. We still do have some clouds and theyre not as low as they have been, and dont have much rain out | there. Folks, thats good news. Thats where the radar has been on the job, | good news, courageous for almost 52 hours, nonstop. Finally work the last bastian of rain just a few | hours, seminole county, Brevard County and maybe a little in Volusia County and all the rains are going to be moving out to sea and we will have clearing skies later on tonight and then a nice weekends is on tap. Once again, i want to tach on the touch on the impressive rain totals, the two day totals and almost three nvpsses in daytona and for the month, orlando bdouble Daytona Beach and melbourne than ending up on the top three all time in terms of rainfall for their respective locations. And a mild weekend, and before you know it, well be back into the 80s for a high temperatures. Outside right now, 62 degrees, and again, a lot of clouds right now, but look at it number one well see some cooler air and thats whats going to help clear us up, and more 60s and now, the air behind this system, its not that cold. Temperatures in the 40s in the deep south. So there isth big batch of dry air is going ooh kick all the moist air out of play and its going to be a nice few days. The rain, fog, almost out of chilly. 50 degrees tonight and 66, brisk breezy. 45 degrees tomorrow night. So saturday morning will be chilly, but then we warm up into the 70s. Saturday and sunday and bob, brooks, thank you. One of hollywoods favorite actors gets a private audience with pope francis. Right now, all youre thinking about is finding quick cover, so you can continue streaming your favorite show in the great outdoors. And you dont need a dead zone further interrupting your otherwise perfect afternoon. Echo from bright house networks. Eliminates dead zones, so you can stream confidently all around your home. And now connect to. Premier tv, 15 megabit internet and hddvr service. Only 92 a month. The stories that are hot social media may not be sleeping as well as they should. Researchers track and sleep troubles for nearly 1800 americans between 19 and 32 years old. On average, participants spend a little bit more than an hour a difficult on seashl media, visiting social media sites. Nearly 30 of those say they suffer from some sleep disturbances. Actor Leonardo Dicaprio jets off to the vatican city with a private meeting with the pontiff pope francis, and global globe winner are exchanging gifts and discussing their shared concerns over the environment. A houston area restaurant is offering an oil barrel dinner, and oozies is offering a free meal. Wednesday night, the oil barrel dinner well, threecourse meal and if a barrel is 29 bucks and your desert. So some cooler air working its way in. Some drier air as well. That means the rain is gone for the most part. Still a few sprinkles right now for about the next half hour moving offshore. 66 degrees with sunny skies tomorrow. Crisp, and then tomorrow night, chilly. Lows in orlando, 45. And saturday and sunday we warm up. And rainfree all the way in and then look, if theres a dip another 23 the cold front. And the cold front. And then next week. Wow okay. Thank you so much