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Trump tangles with rivals in Republican debate knockabout Trump tangles with rivals in Republican debate knockabout
(about 3 hours later)
The Republican candidates for president traded sharp blows over foreign policy and the future of the Supreme Court in an often unruly and chaotic debate.The Republican candidates for president traded sharp blows over foreign policy and the future of the Supreme Court in an often unruly and chaotic debate.
After Iowa and New Hampshire, the race has now moved to South Carolina before the 20 February primary.After Iowa and New Hampshire, the race has now moved to South Carolina before the 20 February primary.
Front-runner Donald Trump repeatedly tangled with Texas Senator Ted Cruz and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in a series of tense exchanges.Front-runner Donald Trump repeatedly tangled with Texas Senator Ted Cruz and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush in a series of tense exchanges.
The lively audience repeatedly jeered and booed the candidates.The lively audience repeatedly jeered and booed the candidates.
As the candidates shouted down and interrupted each other, CBS moderator John Dickerson warned: "We're in danger of driving this into the dirt."As the candidates shouted down and interrupted each other, CBS moderator John Dickerson warned: "We're in danger of driving this into the dirt."
Debate highlights:Debate highlights:
Mr Trump and Mr Bush clashed over the war in Iraq and President George Bush's role during the 11 September attacks.Mr Trump and Mr Bush clashed over the war in Iraq and President George Bush's role during the 11 September attacks.
Jeb Bush responded robustly to Mr Trump's attacks, a departure for the former governor who originally sought a "joyful" campaign.Jeb Bush responded robustly to Mr Trump's attacks, a departure for the former governor who originally sought a "joyful" campaign.
"We should have never been in Iraq," Mr Trump said."We should have never been in Iraq," Mr Trump said.
"They lied. They said there were weapons of mass destruction. There were none and they knew that there were none.""They lied. They said there were weapons of mass destruction. There were none and they knew that there were none."
Bludgeoned and bloody: Anthony Zurcher, BBC News North American reporter Analysis: Laura Bicker, BBC News, in Greenville, South Carolina
Saturday night's Republican debate was like a cross between a game of musical chairs and the opening scene of Gangs of New York. The six candidates remaining in the field are jostling for position in the South Carolina primary next Saturday, and they didn't seem to care whom they have to bludgeon or bloody in the process. The Republicans had been looking for a fight before this debate even started. There was a sombre moment to mourn the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. That paved the way for an obvious opening question: who should nominate his successor to the Supreme Court? This president, who would try to appoint a liberal-leaning successor? No, cried Republicans.
Jeb Bush and Donald Trump led off the night by exchanging barbs over President George W Bush's responsibility for the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center - a pretty astounding topic for a Republican debate. On stage, Donald Trump was already out of step and said he was certain President Obama would make the nomination whether Republicans liked it or not.
John Kasich and Mr Bush fought over expanding Medicaid healthcare coverage for the poor. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio went at each other (yet again) over immigration reform. Mr Bush and Mr Trump joined in, as well. Cruz and Trump also exchanged blows over Trump's past dalliances with liberal positions. From there, the debate almost descended into an all-out brawl with the billionaire at its centre. The frontrunner took every opportunity to set himself apart as the outsider, dismayed with the state of politics. He saved the bulk of his ire for Jeb Bush, who has been his target for months. But this time the former Florida governor was ready. He stayed calm and didn't fluff his lines.
Ben Carson was also on the stage, but he's been reduced to a ghost of front-runners past. It meant Mr Trump came across more as the pantomime villain and the audience reacted accordingly, by booing.
"My name was mentioned twice," he said at one point, trying to get a word in edgewise. This debate will not be remembered by stand-out performances. Instead, voters witnessed some of the most bitter exchanges of the campaign so far.
No one seemed to notice.
Mr Bush pushed back, defending his brother who will soon join Mr Bush on the campaign trail before the pivotal South Carolina primary.Mr Bush pushed back, defending his brother who will soon join Mr Bush on the campaign trail before the pivotal South Carolina primary.
"I'm sick and tired of Barack Obama blaming my brother for all the problems that he's had and frankly I could care less about the insults Donald Trump gives against me," Mr Bush said."I'm sick and tired of Barack Obama blaming my brother for all the problems that he's had and frankly I could care less about the insults Donald Trump gives against me," Mr Bush said.
Justice Scalia's death was addressed early on in the debate with all six candidates saying the next president should choose his replacement. Justice Scalia's death was addressed early on in the debate most of the six candidates saying the next president should choose his replacement.
Mr Cruz said "we are one justice away" from the court reversing conservative legal gains.Mr Cruz said "we are one justice away" from the court reversing conservative legal gains.
Mr Trump said President Obama would probably pick a replacement, but stressed that Republicans in the Senate should block him.Mr Trump said President Obama would probably pick a replacement, but stressed that Republicans in the Senate should block him.
"Delay, delay, delay," Mr Trump said."Delay, delay, delay," Mr Trump said.
Later, Mr Cruz contended that Mr Trump, who has supported Democrats in the past, would nominate liberal Supreme Court justices if elected president.Later, Mr Cruz contended that Mr Trump, who has supported Democrats in the past, would nominate liberal Supreme Court justices if elected president.
"You are the single biggest liar," Mr Trump said to Mr Cruz. "This guy will say anything.""You are the single biggest liar," Mr Trump said to Mr Cruz. "This guy will say anything."
After South Carolina next week, the rest of the states will have their turn over the coming weeks and months. The next primary and caucus is in South Carolina next week. Other states will have their turn over the coming weeks and months.
Each party formally announces their presidential candidate at conventions in July, four months before the presidential election.Each party formally announces their presidential candidate at conventions in July, four months before the presidential election.
Key dates to comeKey dates to come
20 February - South Carolina primary (Republican); Nevada caucus (Democrat)20 February - South Carolina primary (Republican); Nevada caucus (Democrat)
23 February - Nevada caucus (R)23 February - Nevada caucus (R)
27 February - South Carolina primary (D)27 February - South Carolina primary (D)
1 March - 'Super Tuesday' - 15 states or territories decide1 March - 'Super Tuesday' - 15 states or territories decide
18-21 July - Republican convention, nominee picked18-21 July - Republican convention, nominee picked
25-28 July - Democratic convention, nominee picked25-28 July - Democratic convention, nominee picked
8 November - US presidential elections8 November - US presidential elections
In depth: Primary calendarIn depth: Primary calendar