Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
The GOP debate stage is set at the Venetian in Las Vegas on Dec. 15, 2015.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Mike Nelson, European Pressphoto Agency)
LAS VEGAS —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The Republican presidential candidates gathered for their<span style="color: Red;">*</span>fifth debate<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Tuesday night as the race enters the final stretch before<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses.
This time around, the main stage features<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Carly Fiorina, Chris Christie, John Kasich, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush and Rand Paul. (George Pataki, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Lindsey Graham squared off in the undercard debate earlier in the evening.)
We'll be bringing you all the latest updates here; all times are Eastern.
9:15 p.m.: The government surveillance issue surfaces -- and so does a dispute between Cruz and Rubio.
Cruz defends his support of limiting some programs, saying he has backed expansion of investigative<span style="color: Red;">*</span>powers in other areas.
Rubio hits Cruz for opposing a bill on<span style="color: Red;">*</span>meta-data programs; Cruz says Rubio is mis-stating his record, saying he supported an improved version of the program.
Paul also weighs in, saying past bulk collections of data by the government did not make the nation safer. Paul claims Rubio has been weak on stopping illegal immigration.
9:12<span style="color: Red;">*</span>p.m.:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Kasich claims President Obama is more interested in climate change than fighting terrorism.
9:09 p.m.: Christie echoes his opening statement, saying fears about terrorism -- including the closure of schools in Los Angeles -- are a consequence of President Obama's and Hillary Clinton's policies.
9:07<span style="color: Red;">*</span>p.m.: Cruz is invited to critique Trump's proposed Muslim ban, but he declines to do so. He instead trumpets his plan to suspend immigration from countries that have terrorism problems.
9:05 p.m.: Rubio says he disagrees with Trump's Muslim ban, but understands that many Republicans back it because "this president hasn't kept us safe." But says the Trump plan "isn't going to happen."
9:03<span style="color: Red;">*</span>p.m.: First question is about Trump's plans to bar Muslims from entering the U.S., and his plan to build a wall on the southern border. Is he isolating the United States? No, Trump says.
Bush is asked why he called Trump "unhinged." He says banning Muslims will alienate Muslim nations that are our allies. He says of Trump: "He is a chaos candidate<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and he would<span style="color: Red;">*</span>be a chaos president."
Trump says Bush attacks him because he is falling in the poll. Says Trump: "I'm the most solid person<span style="color: Red;">*</span>up here."
8:59<span style="color: Red;">*</span>p.m.: Opening statements, mostly on national security:
Paul attacks Trump over his call to fight terrorism by restricting the Internet; says the solution is to quit arming allies of the Islamic State, and using local forces to defeat them.
Kasich says people are too busy yelling at each other; the U.S. needs more<span style="color: Red;">*</span>unity to meet its economic and national defense challenges.
Christie says "America has been betrayed" by its leadership, including President Obama and Hillary Clinton. He cites the closure of Los Angeles schools because of a bomb threat; says Obama and Clinton have not protected the nation's security.
Fiorina says, like many, she is "angry" at "what's happened to our nation." Says she has been tested personally and professionally, and denounced the nation's "political class" and "liberal elites."
Bush says "our freedom is under attack." Also cites<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the investigation of Hillary Clinton for her use of personal e-mail during her time as secretary of state.
Rubio says President Obama's stewardship has been "a disaster," that the nation's enemies no longer fear us and our allies no longer respect us.
Cruz: "America is at war" <span style="color: Red;">*</span>with "radical Islamic terrorists," a term Obama and Clinton won't use. "Border security is national security," he adds.
Carson calls for moment of silence for victims of San Bernardino terrorist attack. Denounces "political correctness" and "timidity." Wants to declare war on Islamic State.
Trump says borders need to be strengthened; denounces "disgusting" nuclear deal with Iran. Now terrorism is a major issue.
8:44<span style="color: Red;">*</span>p.m.:The candidates are (finally) all on stage; again, they are photographed. The national anthem is sung.
8:40 p.m.: The CNN telecast (finally) starts.
8:35 p.m.: We're running late; the candidates are still posing for pictures backstage.
[h=2]More coverage of the GOP debate:[/h]USA TODAY
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