Recap: CNBC GOP debate

The top 10 Republican presidential candidates are squaring off Wednesday night in the third GOP presidential debate of the cycle.

The debate, which will run until around 10 p.m. EST, will focus primarily on the economy and fiscal issues.

SEE MORE ELECTION COVERAGE AT AOL.COM

Here's who qualified for the debate, and where each candidate stands in the polls, according to the Real Clear Politics average of five recent national polls:

• Donald Trump, real-estate magnate: 26.8% average as of Wednesday (down from a 29.8% average before the September debate)

• Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon: 22% (up from 17.8%)

• Marco Rubio, US senator from Florida: 9% (up from 5.8%)

• Jeb Bush, former Florida governor: 7% (down from 7.8%)

• Ted Cruz, US senator from Texas: 6.6% (down from 6.7%)

• Carly Fiorina, former Hewlett Packard CEO: 5.8% (up from 4.3%)

• Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor: 3.8% (down from 4.3%)

• Rand Paul, US senator from Kentucky: 3.4% (up from 2.7%)

• John Kasich, Ohio governor: 2.6% (down from 3.5%)

• Chris Christie, New Jersey governor: 2.4% (up from 2.0%)

Read the live blog below, and check back for frequent updates:

10:17 p.m. -- In his closing statement, Trump said that his threat to boycott the CNBC debate in order to get the terms that he wanted showed how he could negotiate strong deals.

"Nobody wants to watch three-and-a-half or three hours...and at about two minutes, I renegotiated it down to two hours so we can get the hell outta here," Trump said.

10:00 p.m. -- After Christie attempted to shirk a question about climate change, CNBC moderator John Harwood interjected. Christie immediately called him out.

10:00 p.m. -- After Christie attempted to shirk a question about climate change, CNBC moderator John Harwood interjected. Christie immediately called him out.

"Even in New Jersey what you're doing is called rude," Christie said.

9:55 p.m. -- Asked about recent scandals about people cheating in fantasy football, Bush noted his positive record.

"I'm 7 and 0 in my fantasy football league," Bush said, before noting that someone should regulate the fantasy leagues.

"Are we really talking about the government getting involved in fantasy football?" Christie said.

After CNBC moderator John Harwood tried to interject, Christie called him out, asking if he could finish.

"Even in New Jersey what you're doing is called rude," Christie said, as the audience applauded.

9:49 p.m. -- Huckabee dodged a question about whether Trump had the moral authority to be president, saying that he respected Trump, and he was wearing a Trump tie on the debate stage.

"Was it made in China or Mexico?" Bush said.

"That's a really nasty question," Trump said.

9:46 p.m. -- Trump said that he may be somewhat comfortable if people are allowed to carry guns in some of his hotels, and mentioned that he carries a gun on occasion.

"I do carry on occasion, sometimes a lot," Trump said. "I like to be unpredictable."

9:38 p.m. -- Kasich briefly mentioned his opposition to a state referendum in Ohio that would legalize recreational marijuana.

"Sending mixed signals to kids about drugs is a disaster. Drugs are one of the greatest scourges in this country," Kasich said.

Kasich then discussed his plan to lower income inequality.

"Income inequality is driven by a lack of skills," Kasich said.

9:28 p.m. -- Rubio continued to criticize the media, racking up major applause lines for hitting the media for its supposed liberal bias.

"The Democrats have the ultimate super PAC. It's called the mainstream media," Rubio said.

See images from the tense debate:

9:25 p.m. -- CNBC moderator Becky Quick asked about Trump's criticism of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's push for immigration reform. Trump denied ever criticizing Zuckerberg.

"I don't know, you people write this stuff," Trump said.

9:18 p.m. -- CNBC Carl Quintanilla pressed Carson on his connection to an embattled nutritional supplement maker. The audience was not pleased.

9:10 p.m. — Rubio deflected questions about the liquidation of his retirement savings account, saying that he had to because he didn't inherit any money, and had to pay off student loans while raising his family.

"I'm not worried about my finances, I'm worried about the finances of everyday Americans," Rubio said.

When Becky Quick brought up that Rubio made the decision despite a "windfall" of income, the senator interjected.

"It is available on paperback," Rubio said, referencing the profits he made from one of his books.

9:05 p.m. -- When asked if he would vote for a bi-partisan spending deal that would include some spending cuts with a low proportion of tax increases, Bush dodged the question, saying that it would never happen with Democrats in Congress.

%shareLinks-quote="Find a Democrat that's willing to cut $10 in spending, I'll give them a warm kiss." type="quote" author="Jeb Bush" authordesc="Former governor and candidate for president" isquoteoftheday="false"%

"Find a Democrat that's willing to cut $10 in spending, I'll give them a warm kiss," Bush said.

8:53 p.m. -- When asked to respond to a spat between Christie and Huckabee about reforming Social Security, Cruz began with a wisecrack about marijuana-laced brownies.

"I'll buy you a tequila," Cruz said to one of the CNBC moderators. "Or one of those famous Colorado brownies."

8:53 p.m. -- Huckabee and Christie got into a back-and-forth over Social Security reform, an issue which the two have publicly criticized each other over.

"This is a matter not of math: This is a matter of morality," Huckabee said. "If this country does not keep its promise to seniors, then what promise can this country hope to keep?"

"The only way we are going to be moral...is to look at them and treat them like adults," said Christie, who has suggested raising the retirement age and cutting benefits for some higher-income seniors.

8:48 p.m. -- Cruz criticized the CNBC moderators for supposedly not focusing enough on policies, eliciting the biggest applause line of the night.

8:40 p.m. -- Bush criticized Rubio for missing votes, asking if a week in Congress was like a "French work week." Rubio, in response, pointed out that Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), whose 2008 bid Bush has modelled his campaign after, missed a high number of votes.

"Someone has convinced you that attacking me will help you," Rubio said to Bush.

8:37 p.m. -- Asked about having one of the worst attendance records in the US Senate, Rubio said that this is an argument made by establishment Republicans.

"They say 'Wait in line.' Wait for what?" Rubio said.

8:31 p.m. -- Trump immediately hit back at Kasich, noting Kasich's record as a banker at Lehman Brothers, and criticizing the governor for shifting tactics as his poll numbers has dipped.

"He was such a nice guy and he said 'Oh, I'm never going to attack,' but then his poll numbers tanked, and then he got nasty," Trump said.

8:28 p.m. -- Kasich touted his role in helping balance the federal budget while serving in the 1990's, the Ohio governor slammed Carson's tax plan as a "fantasy," and reiterated his attacks on Trump's immigration plan.

"This is the fantasy I talked about in the beginning," Kasich said.

"I'm realistic. You just don't make promises like that."

8:21 p.m. -- Answering a question about his greatest weakness, Cruz joked that he was "too agreeable."

"I'm too agreeable, easy going," Cruz said, garnering a laugh from the crowd. "My biggest weakness is just the contrary."

"If you want someone to grab a beer, I may not be that guy," Cruz said. "But if you want someone to drive you home, I can be that guy."

8:18 p.m. -- Kasich came out swinging immediately against Trump during the first moment in the debate, referencing Trump's immigration plan, which proposes 11 million immigrants living in the US illegally.

"We're on the verge of picking someone who can't do this job," Kasich said, an obvious jab at Trump.

NOW WATCH: The most interesting politician in America is nearly 7 feet tall and campaigns in dive bars

More from Business Insider:
The GOP debate is tonight! Here's what you need to know
The GOP debate is tonight! Here's what you need to know
The first GOP debate field is set -- here's who's in and who's out