REPUBLICAN DEBATE 2011 REAGAB LIBRARY HOST GOP PRESIDENTSIAL CANDIDATES

The Republican Candidates Debate at the Reagan Library happens tonight at 8pm. Eight Presidential candidates will square off in a debate co-moderated by John F. Harris of POLITICO and Brian Williams of NBC News. We'll be updating this page throughout the night with highlights from POLITICO’s coverage and around the web. Also check out our Burns and Haberman live blog and watch the debate livestream.

09/07/2011 10:00PM That's all for now. Stick with Burns and Haberman over on the 2012 live blog for more updates.

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09/07/2011 9:58PM The Arena: Who won the Reagan debate?

Eight Republican candidates are on stage at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., for third debate of the presidential primary season, sponsored by POLITICO and NBC.

Who won or lost? Who did better or worse than expected?

09/07/2011 9:52PM Rick Perry says Galileo 'got outvoted' too

Rick Perry just gave a bit of a rambling answer on climate change, saying, "Well I do agree that the science is not settled on this. The idea that we would put America's economy at jeopardy based on ... science that's not settled yet. ... Galileo got outvoted for a spell."

09/07/2011 9:44PM Check out photos from the Reagan Debate.

09/07/2011 9:40PM No tea party membership cards, Romney quips

Mitt Romney, trying to lean into the tea party on the campaign trail without seeming like he's doing that, was asked if he's a member.

"I don't think you carry cards in the tea party," he laughed to himself, and without others joining.

09/07/2011 9:36PM Perry, Romney debate Social Security




09/07/2011 9:33PM Romney adviser: Perry 'has lost'

Mitt Romney's campaign leapt just now on Rick Perry's restatement of his view that Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme" and that promising to maintain it in its current form is a "monstrous lie."

09/07/2011 9:23PM On Immigration

Rick Perry talks border security, suggesting he would like to see, among other remedies, more boots on the ground.

Mitt Romney says he's against giving amnesty to illegal immigrants, but doesn't take a direct shot at Perry over his tuition for illegal immigrants bill. Newt Gingrich called for English as the official US language.

And Michele Bachmann repeats her support for a border fence, saying without it we would be "in effect (yielding) United States sovereignty."

09/07/2011 9:21PM Ron Paul: TSA 'abusive,' involved in 'all kind of sexual activities'

Put Ron Paul in the anti-pat-down column.

The Texas congressman accused the Transportation Security Administration of taking an “abusive” attitude towards passengers, disputing that government regulation helps airline security.

09/07/2011 9:15PM Where's Bachmann?

text: Michele Bachmann has had minimal screentime in this debate, in part because she's had few questions, but she's also done little to maintain a presence when she has gotten attention.

That said, Rick Perry is the front-and-center focus, a fact he's quite aware of.

09/07/2011 9:04PM Rick Perry repeats 'Ponzi scheme' charge, jabs Rove and Cheney

Rick Perry is sticking to his guns on Social Security, standing by the inflammatory language in his book declaring the entitlement program a “Ponzi scheme” and a failure.

09/07/2011 8:56PM @SaraLibby Lots of "Oh snap!" gasps in the press room just now. RT @jmartpolitico: Perry: "i'm not responsible for Karl anymore" #ohyeshedid

09/07/2011 8:53PM Huntsman swats Bachmann on gas

It’s not just Mitt Romney and Rick Perry mixing it up.

Jon Huntsman said shortly before the end of the first debate segment that he doesn’t think much of Michele Bachmann’s rhetoric on energy, which involves pledging to bring gas prices down to $2 a gallon.

09/07/2011 8:49PM @benpolitico: Perry on Rove: "Karl has been over the top for a long time in some of his remarks so I’m not responsible for Karl any more"

09/07/2011 8:49PM Fighting over the individual mandate

Perry: Texans don't "want a health care plan like Gov. Romney in the state of Massachusetts."

09/07/2011 8:36PM Angry Newt

Newt Gingrich's man-against-the-media routine worked in the last debate at Ames, and he tries it again as Williams and John Harris push for answers on Romneycare, Obamacare and individual mandates.

09/07/2011 8:32PM Michele Bachmann against 'socialized medicine'

Michele Bachmann comes out strong, saying the governors' calls for an executive order to repeal Obamacare won't cut it.

09/07/2011 8:23PM Perry, Romney at each other's throats

It took all of a few minutes at the POLITICO/NBC debate to have Mitt Romney and Rick Perry tearing each other up on the issue of jobs.

NBC moderator Brian Williams opened the debate by quizzing the two GOP frontrunners on their job creation records. And that was all it took to get the sparks flying.

09/07/2011 8:12PM Romney and Perry come out swinging within first minutes of #reagandebate  (via@POLITICO)

09/07/2011 8:00PM The debate kicks off on MSNBC.

09/07/2011 7:53PM So, one Rick will apparently come out swinging

It's still an open question how hard Rick Perry will swing at his rivals tonight, but Rick Santorum is certainly leaving no doubt about his plan, in a pre-game interview with Mike Allen.

09/07/2011 7:44PM WATCH LIVE: POLITICO's Pre-Debate Show

09/07/2011 7:31PM Video: Herman Cain talks to POLITICO

POLITICO's Mike Allen interviews former Godfathers Pizza CEO Herman Cain just before the GOP debate at Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Wednesday night.

09/07/2011 7:27 PM Brian Williams on presidential debate prep




09/07/2011 5:41PM Ron Paul adviser Jesse Benton baits Rick Perry

One of the more interesting — and potentially, in debate context, entertaining — rivalries of the 2012 race is the emerging tension between Ron Paul and Rick Perry.

09/07/2011 5:20PM Michele Bachmann is in the building

Photo by POLITICO Staff

09/07/2011 4:17PM Aide says Dem Perry still voted Reagan

Perry's team is showing some pre-debate Ronald Reagan love — and attack-thwarting — as an aide said that even when he was a Democrat, he voted for the Gipper. More from The Statesman.

09/07/2011PM 3:32PM Rick Perry debate appearance 'chance to introduce himself'

Rick Perry's high command is attempting to control expectations for their candidate's debate debut.

After Perry finished his walk-through on stage here at the Reagan Library, I asked his top strategist if the Texas governor would be the aggressor tonight.

09/07/2011 3:09PM Memorable primary-debate moments

Though they can help shape the race, voters forget most of the specifics of what’s said during presidential debates. But the zingers and gaffes endure.

As GOP candidates take the stage at Wednesday night’s Ronald Reagan Presidential Library debate sponsored by POLITICO and NBC News, we’ll be on the lookout for those made-for-TV — or for YouTube, or for Twitter — moments.

They’ll certainly have competition from these other memorable primary debate moments from the last few presidential cycles.