Florida House Majority Leader Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, a Rick Perry supporter, defends the Texas governor on job growth following the GOP P5 debate Thursday in Orlando.

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, a businessman and former chairman of the board of directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, said he picked up points in Thursday's GOP P5 debate in Orlando. He also says he would only accept second place on the national ticket if the top slot went to someone with similar ideas and who would use him in important roles.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, who has already endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry as the GOP nominee for president, defends Perry's immigration reform efforts after the GOP P5 debate Thursday in Orlando.

Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, who has endorsed Rick Perry for the GOP presidential nomination, says the Texas governor defended himself and hasn't "flip-flopped" on issues at the GOP P5 debate Thursday in Orlando.

Florida Senate PresidentMike Haridopolos says little change in the field is expected after the GOP P5 debate Thursday in Orlando.

Newt Gingrich had his best moment in the presidential debate. He compared the current situation to America under Jimmy Carter -- and reminded viewers that Ronald Reagan emerged and changed America around. Rick Santorum piggy-backed on the comment and praised Reagan.

The Republican presidential debate is entering its fourth quarter and Michele Bachmann is continuing her attacks against Rick Perry for backing a vaccination for schoolgirls in Texas. Perry responded with a new defense, revealing that a 31-year-old woman lobbied him on the issue. He responded with his repeated line from the last defense: I erred on the side of life.

While the debate has lasted for more than an hour, Michele Bachmann finally scored some points. She came out against expanded charter flights to Cuba, noting that the Castro regime is listed by the U.S. State Department as a state sponsor of terror. Gary Johnson said he was behind expanded flights to Cuba.

One of the dark horse candidates finally broke into the Rick Perry-Mitt Romney duel. No surprise -- its Rick Santorum, who has been the most aggressive underdog candidate in previous debates. Santorum agreed that Perry was soft on immigration. A visibly annoyed Perry fired back, wondering if Santorum had ever been to the border. Santorum responded that he had. Perry continued firing away at Santorum on the issue and defending his record on securing the border.

Before Rick Perry and Mitt Romney tangled on immigration, two Republican presidential candidates -- U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia -- tackled it first. Bachmann did not directly attack either Perry or Romney on the issue, while Gingrich continued his debate strategy of praising his rivals -- in this case, Bachmann.

As the Republican presidential hopefuls continue to debate in Orlando, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney continue to clash -- this time on education. The first half of the debate is starting to wind down and the debate is being dominated by Romney and Perry. Michele Bachmann has gotten little in the way of face time. Rick Santorum, who has been aggressive in previous debates, has thrown no jabs so far. It seems the underdogs are content lagging behind so far. With Perry and Romney ahead of the rest of the field in the polls, one of the dark horses has to go on the attack.

Businessman Herman Cain just blew an opportunity when he called for the elimination of the federal EPA. Cain took aim at EPA regulations, but did not mention that agencys battle with Florida over water standards. Its a big issue with Sunshine State Republicans and Cain didn't even touch it. With the candidates taking part in a straw poll on Saturday, Cain just blew a chance to reach out to Florida Republicans.

The debate between the Republican presidential candidates in Orlando is a quarter over, and the fireworks have begun. Rick Perry and Mitt Romney fired away at each other over books they have written. Romney jabbed Perry on Social Security while the Texas governor fired back on the Massachusetts health-care law -- which he continued to dub Romneycare. Perry and Romney lead the national polls -- and are leaving the other seven candidates on the stage in the dust. None of the dark horses have been able to change the narrative so far in the debate.

Asked how small businesses can hire new employees, Texas Gov. Rick Perry started the Republican presidential debate in Orlando on Thursday night with a word of praise for Florida Gov. Rick Scott as a competitor to lure jobs. Scott is climbing back from low polling earlier in the year -- hes rounding up Republicans after a very bloody primary with then-Attorney General Bill McCollum in 2010.

Former Gov. Gary Johnson of New Mexico took his opening bow at the Republican presidential debate in Orlando on Thursday night -- and offered a solid introduction to himself. Asked why libertarians should back him over U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, Johnson offered an overview of his record in New Mexico and backed away from attacking the maverick congressman. Johnson made his point and did not attack Paul, who remains very popular with libertarians across the country.