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Until now, Ted Cruz has struggled to snatch the limelight from his Republican presidential rival Donald Trump.

But that all changed last night, when he set the internet ablaze by appearing to eat a ball of SNOT live on air.

About 20 minutes in to last night's Fox News GOP debate, a small white lump appeared on Cruz's top lip.

Transfixed, viewers apparently forgot about the issues at hand, instead focusing on the eye-catching spec travelling around Cruz's mouth.

It finally settled on his bottom lip.

(Image: Fox News)

And Cruz obviously noticed it too.

Launching into another verbal attack on Trump, he said: "You're angry, you're angry at Washington - he uses angry rhetoric."

(Image: Fox News)

He then looked directly into the camera and, with millions of viewers' eyes on his bottom lip, swallowed the object.

Twitter users unfurled with a collective gasp of horror.

The bizarre incident - dubbed "Boogergate" - dominated another lively debate in the pantomime that is the Republican presidential candidate race.

(Image: Fox News)

It arguably even usurped Trump discussing the size of his manhood.

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Stung by a quip by Marco Rubio about his 'small' hands Trump said: "If they're small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there's no problem."