CNN Republican presidential debate: How to tune in

We will be updating it live as the debate goes and the full debate will be available here when it is over. In addition, Salem Radio Network will be the exclusive radio provider for the debate. According to CNN, all users will be able to watch live CNN TV online and on their mobile devices without logging in. The CNN debate aired from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Eastern time. The event reached peak usage at 9:45 p.m. ET with 815,000 concurrent streams.

Donald Trump, the celebrity billionaire who continues to hold on to first-place in the national polls, likely will defend his controversial call for a temporary ban on all Muslims entering the United States.

All five of the Republican debates have scored substantial ratings (14 million for CNBC on October 28 and 13.5 million for Fox Business Network on November 10), thanks largely to the public’s interest in the candidacy of Trump, the real estate developer and reality show star whose front-runner status in most polls has outlasted the predictions of every pundit.

When it comes to candidates who will be slugging it out in the open, CNN has said that nine candidates will be part of the debate on primetime stage.

In the final analysis, Cruz spoke over two minutes more than his closest rival: Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

APPHOTO NVTS138: Ben Carson, left, and Donald Trump laugh during the CNN Republican presidential debate at the Venetian Hotel & Casino on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015, in Las Vegas. To his left will be Cruz, Bush, Christie and Paul. It will be hosted by ABC News and WMUR.