On a stage with several experienced candidates debating their way into the favor of the public, the winner was....Megyn Kelly.
Kelly, the Fox News anchor and lightning rod for Donald Trump's hate, came into Thursday night's debate under plenty of pressure. Not that you could have sensed it.
Debuting a sleek, powerful new look, Kelly's moderation of the Republican presidential debate on Fox News drew widespread accolades, particularly for hard-hitting questions directed at candidates' positions.
Kelly had become a particular focus of the debate after Donald Trump announced that he would not appear at the event.
Trump's absence was due in large part to Kelly, who had become the target of Trump's ire for her tough questions from the first debate.
Trump had routinely gone after Kelly, often retweeting criticism of her, much of it sexist.
If any of that had gotten to Kelly, she didn't show it on Thursday. She drew mostly positive reviews for her questions and responses.
Megyn's fact-checks ON FLEEK. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/US9FrRjpTk— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) January 29, 2016
Is it just me, or has @megynkelly raised the bar on moderating a debate tonight? #GOPDebate— Dr. Max Wachtel (@mwachtel) January 29, 2016
thank you @megynkelly for sharp questions on #immigration #GOPDebate— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) January 29, 2016
Congrats to @megynkelly for winning the debate.— Geoff Stults (@geoffstults) January 29, 2016
Lots of praise for Megyn Kelly on the Twitters tonight— Hadas Gold (@Hadas_Gold) January 29, 2016
Megyn Kelly and her video montages: pic.twitter.com/6ejICE8zvk— Doug Gansler (@DougGansler) January 29, 2016
@nxthompson now you get it.— MichaelPrenezIsbell (@MichaelIsbell) January 29, 2016