9:37 PM: I’m curious to see how Romney does when actually challenged on the US auto industry.

9:43 PM: “Time will tell.” “Probably what I’ll do.” Those were Romney’s key lines on taxes. You’ll see a lot of follow ups trying to get him to nail that down to a real commitment.

9:51 PM: Ron Paul: MLK is with me on the drug war and the wars abroad. So even with the newsletters that’s still 2 out of three and that ain’t bad.

9:54 PM: Newt is raucous and shameless as usual. But this is the kind of performance that helped him rocket to the top of the polls.

Running updates on every turn of tonight’s debate at TPMLiveWire.

9:24 PM: This primary race is pretty much over — if we’re talking about any serious chance of Mitt Romney not being the nominee. But there are a lot Republicans watching that last exchange who had some real heartburn. When at all seriously challenged, Romney quickly loses his cool. That’s a problem if you’re in a race with serious opposition — which Romney really hasn’t been.