Fourth Republican debate: Highlights from Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE — It was the fourth go-round for Republican candidates Tuesday night, but this time the stage was just a bit less crowded — only eight candidates polled well enough to make the cut.

Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Jeb Bush, John Kasich and Rand Paul faced off at the Milwaukee Theatre, which followed an undercard debate featuring Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal and Rick Santorum. We tracked the highlights of the prime-time debate here; all times are Eastern.

11:20 p.m.: The Republican candidates wrapped up a debate Tuesday in which they argued about who is best qualified to tackle the nation's economic challenges, who is the best conservative, and who is most likely to defeat likely Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

11:10 p.m.: Closing statement time:

Paul stresses the size of the national debt, saying he is the only true "fiscal conservative on the stage."

Kasich blasts the policies of Hillary Clinton (and Bernie Sanders) and says Republicans must win the election to reduce power in Washington.

Fiorina also raises the specter of a Clinton presidency and says she is best positioned to defeat the likely Democratic nominee.

Bush stresses improving the military, saying he will be a true commander-in-chief who will stick up for the troops and help veterans.

Cruz says 2016 will be like 1980, and Republicans can repeat Ronald Reagan's victory by stressing conservative principles.

Rubio says he will be a leader for the 21st Century.

Carson talks about the rising federal debt and other national problems, and says we should not avoid these challenges because of "political correctness."

Trump says he is self-funding his campaign, and also says Republicans must do all they can to defeat Clinton.

11:04 p.m.: Paul turns a climate change question into one about regulations; says he will reverse new rules on energy production. Paul says people should be wary of climate change legislation, but should also encourage a variety of energy sources.

11:02 p.m.: Trump talks about ways to claw back taxes from overseas incomes.

10:58 p.m.: A Hillary Clinton question — one that talks about her qualifications — draws boos from the audience.

Rubio casts the question in generational terms, saying the election is "about the future," while Clinton and the Democrats are "the party of the past."

Cruz says Clinton does have a lot of experience, but her policies have been disasters.

10:47 p.m.: Cruz denounces "cronyism" in Washington and says he would "absolutely not" bail out any failing banks — a question other candidates wouldn't answer. He also criticizes the Federal Reserve.

Kasich reminds Cruz that letting banks fail will cost depositors millions of dollars, and sometimes leaders have to make hard decisions. "Philosophy doesn't work when you run something," Kasich says, though his comments draw catcalls from the audience.

Cruz says Kasich is more interested in rich banks than in "mom and pop" businesses.

Fiorina, meanwhile, says government helped created the financial crisis, and responded with "crony capitalism." She added: "This is how socialism starts."

10:45 p.m.: Rubio says the big banks are wealthy enough and lawyer-ed enough to handle the new government regulations; it's the small banks that are struggling and should be unshackled.

Kasich says there is "too much greed" on Wall Street.

10:42 p.m.: Carson also weighs in against government regulations, saying they have created an "abnormal situation" in the economy.

10:40 p.m.: Bush says the Obama administration is overdoing it with new financial regulations in the wake of the economic collapse of 2008. He says if the economy is managed well enough, the government won't have to worry about bailing out banks.

10:34 p.m.: Kasich gives a tour d'horizon of foreign policy, stressing his congressional experience. Also denounces Hillary Clinton.

10:32 p.m.: Rubio denounces Putin as a "gangster" who is taking advantage of American weakness in the Middle East. Rubio also delivers a stark message on the Islamic State: "Either they win or we win."

10:30 p.m.: When Fiorina tries to jump in on Paul's discussion on foreign policy, Trump attacks his fellow business executive: "Why does she keep interrupting everybody?"

10:22 p.m.: Trump, Bush, and Fiorina argue about foreign policy.

Trump says Russia is only one of America's problems, and that North Korea and China may be bigger ones. Also says the U.S. cannot be "the policemen" of the world and should spend more defense money at home.

Trump also says the U.S. should let Vladimir Putin go after the Islamic State in Syria, drawing fire from Bush.

Bush says Trump's approach is "absolutely wrong." While the U.S. cannot be the world's policeman, he said, it needs to be the world's leader — and should be wary of giving Russia free rein in Syria to fight the Islamic State.

Fiorina also jumps in, saying the U.S. should put pressure on Putin over Russian adventurism. Both she and Bush advocate a "no fly zone" over Iraq and Syria.

Paul warns his colleagues against risking another Iraq war.

10:18 p.m: Foreign policy surfaces.

Carson more or less endorses President Obama's plan to put 50 special forces members into Syria, saying the administration's plan to date has been ineffective. The retired neurosurgeon says the country needs to think in terms of destroying the Islamic State overall, and the best place to do that might be Iraq.

Bush also identifies "Islamic terrorism" as the biggest threat facing the nation and says that the Islamic State is creating "a caliphate the size of Indiana" in Syria and Iraq.

10:08 p.m.: Trump denounces the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership with Pacific Rim nations, calling it a "horrible deal" that will send U.S. jobs overseas and still wind up benefiting China (though they are not part of the TPP). The businessman said he would renegotiate separate trade deals with individual countries.

"We don't have smart people making the deals," Trump says.

Paul stresses the fact that China is not part of the Pacific Rim trade deal, and doesn't particularly like it.

Trump also talks about the need to beef up national defense — and says all the GOP's various tax plans are better than the "mess" left behind by the current administration.

10:01 p.m.: Rubio and Paul mix it up over child care tax credits — and foreign policy.

Rubio defends his proposed child care tax credits, saying they can help people accomplish the nation's toughest job: being a parent.

Paul jumps in, saying Rubio's child tax credit plan is a "welfare transfer payment" and "not very conservative."

Rubio fires back by talking foreign policy, describing Paul as a "committed isolationist." Paul says he is committed to national defense but also doesn't want to see the country go broke.

Cruz and Fiorina also jump into the kerfuffle, saying the nation can cut its budget and defend itself at the same time.

9:59 p.m.:  Bush says he will fight "as hard as I can" to reduce taxes and regulations in a way to encourage 4% economic growth. Says Hillary Clinton's plans will "destroy" the economy.

9:56 p.m.: In arguing for his flat tax, Cruz says there are more words in the tax code than in the Bible — "and none of them are as good." Cruz again pulls out a big applause line: abolishing the IRS.

9:54 p.m.: Paul says his tax cut plan is designed to balance the budget via major government cuts. Paul says he would keep deductions for home ownership and charitable giving.

9:50 p.m.: Carson says everyone should pay the same percentage of income in taxes, with no deductions but including rebates for poorer people. This is in contrast to Trump, who says rich people should pay higher rates. Trump does not comment.

9:43 p.m.: Fiorina says repealing the Obama health care law is the key to easing the regulatory burden on American businesses: "Obamacare is crushing small businesses." She again touts her experience in the private sector, and says "we have to take out government back."

9:41 p.m.:  After defending his entitlement reform plan — current and near retirees will not be affected, only younger people — Cruz jumps into the immigration debate by saying that Republicans will lose the election if they support "amnesty." The Texas senator hits many familiar targets during his statement, including the media.

9:39 p.m.: Rubio denounces the "crazy health care law" among other Obama economic sins.

9:32 p.m.: Trump, Kasich, and Bush have a dust-up over immigration and the economy.

First, Trump hails the appeals court decision striking down President Obama's order suspending many deportations. (The case is likely headed to the Supreme Court in any event.) The businessman then echoes his immigration platform — "we need borders; we will have a wall" — and says many migrants currently in the country illegally will have to be deported.

Kasich jumps in to say Trump's plans are unrealistic, sparking an argument between the two. Kasich defends his economic and immigration record, while Trump trumpets his business success and says of Kasich: "We don't have to hear from this man."

Trump also says Bush should be allowed to answer the question, to which the Florida governor says: "Thank you, Donald, for allowing me to speak at the debate ... What a generous man you are."

Bush also says Trump's plans are unrealistic.

9:29 p.m.: Carson is asked whether all the stories about his past have hurt him. Carson, who jokingly thanked the questioner for not asking him about something that happened in the 10th grade, says he has no problem with vetting — "What I do have a problem with is being lied about," Carson says before accusing Hillary Clinton of lying about Benghazi. Carson also says he has confidence in the voters: "People who know me know that I am an honest person."

9:23 p.m.: Rand Paul assesses blame for income equality by saying it is worse in "cities run by Democrats, states run by Democrats, and countries currently run by Democrats." The Kentucky senator also takes aim at a familiar target: The Federal Reserve System.

9:21 p.m.: Carly Fiorina is asked about stats showing that jobs have increased more under recent Democratic presidents than Republican ones. The businesswoman, a self-proclaimed outsider, says she wants to tackle structural problems to which both parties have contributed.

"We must take our government back," Fiorina said.

9:18 p.m.: After an interruption by Kasich, Bush gets his first question: What regulations would you cut? Bush talks about repealing "every one" of President Obama's new rules that have changed environmental and Internet policies.

9:16 p.m.: Ted Cruz, asked about tax reform, said the answer to the nation's economic problems is encouraging economic growth. He talks about his flat tax, "sound money," and ending regulations that have "descended like locusts" on businesses.

9:11 p.m.: Kasich, asked about the federal debt, notes that his state has enacted a modest increase in the minimum wage. The Ohio governor says he can balance the budget by cutting taxes and spending, including efforts to slow Medicaid spending and a freeze on non-military spending. The former congressman also notes: "You know what? People need help."

9:09 p.m.: Rubio gets his first turn. He also decries the idea of a minimum wage hike, saying the government should help businesses grow via less government spending and more vocational training.

9:07 p.m.: Carson also says the minimum wage should not be raised because doing so would discourage employers from creating more jobs. The key, he said, is creating policies to help people ascend up the economic ladder.

9:03 p.m.: After introductions of the candidates, the first question goes to Trump: Would you support a hike in the minimum wage to $15 an hour? Trump says no because enforced higher wages would burden businesses who are already having trouble competing with other countries. "We just can't do it," the businessman says.

9:00 p.m.: The obligatory television opening, this one stressing Wisconsin's rich political history.

8:55 p.m.: Greetings, friends! The candidates have ascended the stage here in Milwaukee, shaking hands and taking their places at their podiums. The national anthem is played. We're just about ready.

MORE COVERAGE OF THE GOP DEBATE: