As Republican candidates take the main presidential debate stage, concerns over terrorism and how to respond to threats at home and abroad will weigh heavily over the CNN face-off in Las Vegas.
Last month's terrorist attacks in Paris made national security, foreign policy and the appropriate U.S. response the top concern among voters.
Then, shootings in San Bernardino, Calif., earlier this month renewed worries about terrorist sympathizers inside the country. The most controversial reaction to the attacks and the role ISIS may have played has been Donald Trump's proposal to halt all Muslims trying to come into the U.S. for any reason.
Many of his Republican opponents have condemned his radical steps, and the proposal is expected to be a flashpoint. But one candidate who disagreed but hasn't criticized Trump to his face — Texas Sen. Ted Cruz — is on the rise, and could be the target of many of his Republican rivals.
Read our analysis earlier of what each candidate needs to do in tonight's debate. We'll be liveblogging the event below.
9 p.m. Cruz goes directly after President Obama for not calling terror threats "radical Islamic terrorism." More Cruz: "If I'm elected President we will hunt down and kill the terrorists. We will utterly destroy ISIS. We will stop the terrorist attacks before they occur because we will not be prisoners to political correctness."
8:55 p.m. Other opening statements — Christie reminds voters he's prosecuted terrorists as U.S. attorney and would be the toughest president. "America has been betrayed we've been betrayed by the leadership that Barack Obama and Hillary have provided this country over the last 5 years."
Rubio reminds voters he lived in Nevada as a child, telling his story of climbing from a poor immigrant family to the Senate.
8:50 p.m. Paul begins opening statements by taking a shot at Trump, essentially comparing him to a foreign dictator. "Trump says we ought to close that internet thing the question is what does he really mean by that? Like they do in North Korea? Like they do in China?" He says he would keep America safe, but also underscores it has to be done in concert with the Bill of Rights (whose birthday is today!) His libertarian strain is going to make it hard for him in this changed GOP primary though — and one reason he barely made the main debate stage.
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