The CNN GOP debate 2016 takes place on Thursday night in what is surely crunch time ahead of some big primaries next week, including the winner-takes-all Florida Primary. If things don't go Marco Rubio and John Kasich's way, both may be out of the Republican race by this time next week, leaving the GOP nomination race as a face-off between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Tonight's important Republican Debate can be watched on TV on the CNN network, or online through free live stream via the link below.
Moderating tonight's CNN debate will be the network's Jake Tapper. He will be joined by CNN's Dana Bash, Salem talk radio host Hugh Hewitt and The Washington Times' Stephen Dinan as questioners.
Tonight's GOP debate will take place from the University of Miami, and has a scheduled start time of 8.30 p.m. ET.
Coming into the debate, GOP frontrunner Donald Trump is leading Rubio in Florida by 9 points, according to a Suffolk University poll released on Thursday. The poll had Trump at 36 percent, Rubio at 27 percent, Ted Cruz at 19 percent, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich far behind at just 10 percent.
The poll was conducted in Rubio's home state from Monday to Wednesday, and even though it does show Rubio in a much better position than some other polls in Florida over the past few weeks, it will still concern his campaign that he appears to be lagging behind with less than a week to go until the Florida Primary.
David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston, has said, "Ted Cruz is killing Marco Rubio's chances of winning his home state. It appears that Cruz won't be able to vault over both Rubio and Trump, but Cruz is attracting enough Florida voters to keep Rubio from beating Trump in this winner-take-all contest."
Florida is a state that also allows voters to register their votes early, and among early voters there is not much difference from the Suffolk University poll; Trump is also out front with 39 percent, Rubio at 27 percent, Cruz at 16 percent, and Kasich at 14 percent.
The Florida Primary will take place on March 15, and will be the biggest prize on a day that five states will go to the polls. As well as Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio will be voting.
Florida of course will likely prove to be the make or break of Rubio's campaign, and in the same way, Ohio is likely to be the final stand for John Kasich. If either loses their home state, voters can expect them to drop out of the Republican race.
Tonight's debate will also be an important night for both Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. Cruz has solidified his spot as the clear second place runner to Trump. He has called for other GOP candidates to drop out to allow him to face off and be the focal point of voters hoping to stop Trump becoming the Republican presidential nominee. Trump has had to watch a number of states fall to Cruz, however, on Super Tuesday 2 he managed to consolidate his lead and continues to be far out on his own as the frontrunner. If Trump can capture Florida, it would accelerate his drive for the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the GOP nomination outright.
The CNN GOP debate 2016 has a scheduled start time of 8.30 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the CNN network or online through free live stream by clicking here.
