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Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (Tex.), Rand Paul (Ky.) and Marco Rubio (Fla.) discussed what they see to be the current U.S. economys weak spots at a forum Sunday night. All are thought to be potential 2016 presidential hopefuls. (Reuters)

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. Three of the likely Republican presidential contenders decried the nations income gap and argued that President Obama deserves little credit for the improving economy in a forum Sunday night that offered a preview of the themes expected to dominate the 2016 election.

Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida took part in a lively and at times wonkish discussion that ranged from economic policy to U.S. policy toward Iran to the role of wealth in politics. Their 80-minute conversation marked the first time that a crop of potential White House contenders shared a stage in the 2016 season, a session that exposed some of the fault lines that will separate the crowded GOP field.

The panel, moderated by ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl, took place at a private meeting of wealthy donors hosted by Freedom Partners, a tax-exempt group that serves as the hub of a political network supported by Charles and David Koch and other conservative financiers. In a first, the organization shared a live Web stream of the event with news organizations.

The senators alluded to the vast resources of their well-heeled audience even as they called for new economic policies they said would lift up a struggling middle class. Those who are doing well are the top one percent, the millionaires and billionaires the president loves to demagogue, one or two of whom are here with us tonight, Cruz said, adding: The people who have been hammered for the last six years are working men and women.

Cruz dismissed the economic gains that Obama touted in his recent State of the Union speech as the description of an alternate reality. I chuckle every time I hear Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton talk about income inequality, because its increased dramatically under their policies, he said.

Paul agreed. The reason I would say the economy is getting better is despite the president and despite the presidents policies, he said, crediting the lift instead to revenues from oil and gas extracted from private land. This president should take no credit for any kind of recovery we have, he added to hearty applause.

Rubio said taxes and regulations have held back the ability of the United States to compete on a global stage, adding that more higher-wage jobs were needed to address income disparity. The best cure for poverty is a job, a good paying job, and our economy isnt producing enough of them, he said.

The Democratic National Committee challenged their arguments, citing the countrys recent job growth, low gas prices and stock market gains in one of several e-mail statements the party blasted out during the forum.

While Cruz, Paul and Rubio sounded similar notes on the economy, the trio divided sharply over foreign policy.

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Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Marco Rubio decry income inequality, clash over foreign policy