GOP 2016 presidential debate: Jan. 28, 2016
Republican presidential candidates (L-R) Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich stand on the stage during a Republican presidential primary debate, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Republican presidential hopefuls will be in South Carolina tonight for a debate between front runners Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz and the rest of the GOP field.
The debate will be aired Feb. 13 on CBS starting at 8 p.m. CST from the Peace Center in South Carolina. "Face the Nation" host John Dickerson will be the lead moderator with Major Garrett, chief White House correspondent at CBS News, and Kimberley Strassel of the Wall Street Journal also asking questions to candidates.
The debate will be offered on the network's digital streaming service, CBSN.
In addition to Trump, Rubio and Cruz, Republicans John Kasich, Jeb Bush and Ben Carson will be on the debate stage. The narrower Republican field comes after Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and businesswoman Carly Fiorina suspended their presidential campaigns.
In order to qualify for the debate, candidates had to place among the top five candidates in the New Hampshire primary; place among the top three candidates in the Iowa Republican caucuses; or place among the top five candidates in an average of national and South Carolina Republican presidential polls conducted over a four-week period starting Jan. 15.
The debate is the first since the New Hampshire primaries, where Trump came in first and Kasich finished in second place. Cruz, who won the Iowa caucuses, finished third with former Florida Gov. Bush in fourth and Rubio, a Florida Senator, in fifth.
South Carolina's primaries will be held Feb. 20 for Republicans and Feb. 27 for Democrats. Polls show Trump with a lead in South Carolina.
Republicans will debate three more times after this week. The next Republican debate is set for Feb. 25 in Houston, Texas.