Last night's biggest winners? Analysts overwhelmingly say Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz.

"The two candidates to thrive were a pair of senators who have been slowly but clearly gaining strength over the last few weeks: Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz. Rubio has emerged as something of a bettor's favorite: Though he still lags in the polls, pundits who assume Donald Trump and Ben Carson can't win have tabbed him as the man to benefit. He showed why his political abilities are so well regarded. The polished, poised Rubio repeatedly turned what might have been tough questions around on the questioner."

"[Marco Rubio] was good in the first two debates. He was outstanding in this one. The long-awaited showdown between Rubio and Bush wound up being a romp; Jeb tried to attack on Rubio's Senate attendance but got schooled by a very well-prepared Rubio.""Cruz had the single most memorable moment of the debate when, early on, he took on the CNBC moderators for the alleged "gotcha" questions they were asking. It drew a huge response in the debate hall and outside of it — and set the stage for a litany of attacks against the media from Cruz's rivals as the night wore on."

"Rubio's team was visibly elated after having gotten the better of Bush in a third straight GOP debate — and, by winning the first combative exchange between the two candidates, solidifying his position as the new establishment frontrunner."

"A small but diverse sampling of commentary across the internet found many people declaring Senator Marco Rubio of Florida the winner, having bested his old friend Jeb Bush in a feisty exchange."

"In conventional terms Senators Cruz and Rubio won Thursday night's debate. They were laser focused, quick, smart, and passionate. They defended themselves, their records, and went on the offensive at all the right times, calling out the moderators on unfair questions that were focused less on policy than on personality."