Fifth GOP debate: Highlights from Las Vegas

David Jackson | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Best moments from the 5th GOP debate in 3 minutes Watch the best moments from the CNN GOP debate as Republican presidential candidates trade blows.

LAS VEGAS — The Republican presidential candidates gathered for their fifth debate Tuesday night as the race enters the final stretch before the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses.

This time around, the main stage featured 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.)

Here are the highlights; all times are Eastern.

11:05 p.m.: Closing statements:

Paul says debt is weakening the nation, and he is the only "fiscal conservative" in the race.

Kasich notes that no Republican has ever won the presidency without carrying the state of Ohio — and he is the governor of Ohio.

Christie (again) stressed his background as a U.S. attorney in the wake of 9/11 — terrorism "is no theoretical to me," he says. "It's real."

Fiorina says she wants to "take our country back," including from a corrupt government run by a "professional political class."

Bush says he will keep the country safer, stronger and freer than his opponents will. "I deliver real results," the former Florida governor says.

Rubio says the nation is "insecure" in the face of terrorism and a falter economy; he pledges to "rebuild this country."

Cruz says he has "judgment, strength, clarity and trust" and invokes the spirit of Ronald Reagan.

Carson says he wants to preserve American "exceptionalism."

Trump says "our country doesn't win anymore" and "we have to change our whole way."

10:53 p.m.: Trump reaffirms his plan to support the Republican nominee — he thinks it will be him — and not run as an independent. Says Trump: "I will do everything in my power to beat Hilary Clinton."

10:50 p.m.: Trump and Cruz decline the opportunity to attack one another.

Trump says that while he once called Cruz kind of a "maniac," he would still consider him for a running mate: "He's just fine. Don't worry about him."

Cruz questioned Trump's judgment in a meeting with private donors but says tonight that all voters must make that assessment of all candidates.

10:49 p.m.: Trump says he's responsible enough to supervise the nation's nuclear arsenal and guard against the prospect of a "madman" getting a nuclear weapon.

Rubio analyzes the nuclear "triad."

10:45 p.m.: Christie says the U.S. should respond to Chinese cyber-attacks, perhaps by exposing the corruption of its government.

Bush agrees and says the Obama administration has been too "lax" on U.S. cyber security; he cites Hillary Clinton's e-mail flap.

10:44 p.m.: Fiorina says the U.S. must seek to isolate North Korea dictator Kim Jong Un and demand the help of the Chinese. Carson agrees.

10:35 p.m.: Christie again cites his experience as a U.S. attorney — he knows FBI Director James Comey, and cites his concerns about the Syrian refugee program. Kasich also questions the program, saying there should be a pause.

10:30 p.m.: Though asked about Syrian refugees, Paul attacks Rubio for an immigration bill he once backed, saying he sided with Democrats.

Paul later disputes the Syrian refugee program.

10:26 p.m.: Immigration surfaces — and so does another flare-up between Cruz and Rubio.

Rubio says he's open to the idea of giving legal status to people who are in the country illegally — but first the government has to prove it can control the borders.

Cruz says Rubio wants to "muddy the waters," but at one time he sided with Democrats to back "amnesty." Cruz says he too wants a wall on the Southern border —"and I'll get Donald Trump to pay for it."

Rubio says he doesn't understand Cruz's attacks and that the Texas senator has supported legalization programs. Cruz denies it.

Fiorina complains about this latest argument between members of the "political class."

Trump is invited to weigh in — he cites his position and declines to discuss the Cruz-Rubio flap.

Bush calls immigration "a serious challenge" and says Democrats are more at fault.

10:21 p.m.: Carson, the retired doctor, says it's a myth to think that only "the political class" can be commander-in-chief. Describes himself as a "citizen statesman" who can do the job.

10:19 p.m.: Bush accuses Trump of getting his information from "the shows" and makes a cartoon reference: "I don't know if that's Saturday morning or Sunday morning."

Trump attacks CNN for inviting Bush and others to attack him, calling it "very unprofessional."

Bush and Trump continue to mix it up, and at one point Trump refers to the former Florida governor's poor poll numbers: "I'm at 42 and you're at 3."

Kasich decries all the in-fighting.

10:15 p.m.: The issue of Russia surfaces.

Fiorina says she would refuse to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin until changes are made, including U.S. policy in Syria and the Middle East.

Christie says he would back a no-fly zone over Syria and shoot down a Russian plane that violates it. For good measure, he says Obama has been a "feckless weakling" when it comes to dealing with Putin.

Paul describes a "no-fly zone" over Syria is "a recipe for World War III."

10:08 p.m.: Trump says Syria leader Bashar al-Assad is a "bad guy" but the U.S. should focus on the Islamic State. "We have to do one thing at a time," he says. "We have to get rid of ISIS first."

Christie says the Assad and ISIL issues are related and both have to be confronted.

Paul says taking down Assad could lead to a worse government.

10:05 p.m.: Bush defends American leadership, while Paul criticized U.S. interventionism. Cruz jumps in to say the focus should be on the nation's enemies, shouting over the moderator in the process.

10:04 p.m.: Carson also says the U.S. should focus on its own needs, rather than those of the Middle East.

10:00 p.m.: Trump also says the U.S. has been too involved in the Middle East "mess," saying the money could have been better used for roads and bridges in the U.S.

Fiorina jumps in to criticize Trump: "Wow, that is exactly what President Obama said." Trump declines to engage her.

9:56 p.m.: Another Cruz-Rubio dispute, this one over U.S. military interventions.

Cruz says he wants an "America-first foreign policy" and says the U.S. has gotten too involved in Egypt, Libya and other countries, destabilizing them in the process.

Cruz knocks Rubio for supporting U.S. military interventions; Rubio says the U.S. has responded to calls from the people of other countries, like Libya.

9:49 p.m.: Christie, the governor, again knocks Washington politicians for failing to get things done on national security, another knock on Rubio, Cruz and Paul.

9:48 p.m.: Rubio acknowledges that local ground forces will have to be pushed more to fight the Islamic State; so far, they haven't done very well. Fiorina, meanwhile, knocks "first-term senators" — like Rubio, Cruz and Paul — who have never made an executive decision in their lives. She also argues that women make better leaders.

9:46 p.m.: Trump defended himself against Paul, saying his proposed Internet restrictions and targeting family members are designed to target terrorists. Paul questions whether Trump is a "serious" candidate.

9:38 p.m.: Trump is asked about the prospect of civilian casualties in the battle against terrorists. The businessman repeats plans to target terrorist families, drawing another rebuke from Bush about an un-serious idea. Trump hits Bush over immigration.

At one point, Trump tells Bush: "Am I talking, or are you talking, Jeb?" He again accuses Bush of lacking energy.

Bush replies: "Donald, you're not going to be able to insult your way to the presidency."

9:36 p.m.: How to fight the Islamic State? The question sparks another dispute between Cruz and Rubio.

Cruz says he would use "overwhelming air power" to destroy ISIL positions in Syria and Iraq, including its capital city where civilians live; he indicates U.S. ground troops would not be necessary.

Rubio disputes Cruz, saying air power alone won't defeat the Islamic State. Ground forces are necessary, he said, including U.S. special forces and trainers of local ground forces. He notes that Cruz has voted against defense bills — while Cruz says Rubio is too eager to engage the United States in more Middle East ground conflicts, likening his policies to President Obama and Hillary Clinton.

9:27 p.m.: Trump says the Islamic State is using the Internet better than the United States. We should be able to figure out a way to block their Internet access, he says, and some areas of the Internet may need to be closed.

Kasich criticizes that idea but says the government needs to break through encryption.

9:25 p.m.: Fiorina says the government needs to improve its technology in order to check out potential terrorists; she hits officials for not checking the social media postings of immigration applicants.

9:23 p.m.: Bush, citing the views of President George W. Bush, says the U.S. needs to work with Muslim allies.

9:21 p.m.: Carson, after complaining about equal time, says the nation needs to be on a "war footing." He refuses to weigh in on the Cruz-Rubio dispute, saying "let them fight."

9:19 p.m.: Christie touts his experience as governor and federal prosecutor, saying his eyes have "glazed over" listening to the senators on the stage argue about various bills. He says he has real-world experience fighting terrorism.

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 powers in other areas.

Rubio hits Cruz for opposing a bill on metadata programs; Cruz says Rubio is misstating 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.

Rubio and Paul mix it up over immigration and surveillance.

9:12 p.m.: 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 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 he says the Trump plan "isn't going to happen."

9:03 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 and he would be a chaos president."

Trump says Bush attacks him because he is falling in the poll. Says Trump: "I'm the most solid person up here."

8:59 p.m.: Opening statements, mostly on national security:

Paul attacks Trump over his call to fight terrorism by restricting the Internet; he 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 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." She says she has been tested personally and professionally, and she denounced the nation's "political class" and "liberal elites."

Bush says "our freedom is under attack." Also cites 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" with "radical Islamic terrorists," a term Obama and Clinton won't use. "Border security is national security," he adds.

Carson calls for a moment of silence for victims of San Bernardino terrorist attack. He denounces "political correctness" and "timidity" and wants to declare war on Islamic State.

Trump says borders need to be strengthened; he denounces "disgusting" nuclear deal with Iran. Now terrorism is a major issue.

8:44 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.

More coverage of the GOP debate: