take the initiative. that is what we need today. and both those candidates fit that bill. >> tonight is the first for the gop contenders since the paris and san bernardino terror attacks and comes about a week after trump called for a ban on muslims entering the u.s. the debate will keep national security at the forefront. >> the vast majority of people that are trying to come are people that we just don't have information on. this is a issue that you have to be right 100%. >> and marco rubio is another candidate to keep an eye on tonight. he's performed well in past debates and his team is hoping for another strong night tonight. their view going into tonight is why try to fix what isn't broken. when it comes to trump and cruz, the question isn't so much whether trump will try to hit cruz but whether and how cruz will hit back. and i should mention carol t security sweeps are just now beginning in and around this theater. so it is just one more sign we are getting closer to the main