CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - (The following is a timeline of continuing coverage of Thursday evening's GOP presidential debate hosted by CNN in Charleston, SC. Watch ABC27HD News at 11 for a complete wrap up of the debate).
INTERNET
Standing in near unison, the four remaining contenders seeking the Republican presidential nomination are condemning a proposed anti-online piracy law that its critics say is overly aggressive.
Mitt Romney says the law is "far too intrusive" and too broad. He says if the Stop Online Piracy Act becomes law, it could stop
job creation and hurt the economy.
Newt Gingrich says the law pre-emptively censors the Internet on behalf of corporations. He says there are patents and copyrights to protect creators' rights and that, if someone is stealing, then the owners should sue under existing laws.
Rick Santorum says he doesn't like the law but adds that the Internet is not somewhere "where anyone can do anything they
want." And Ron Paul says the bill threatens freedom.
CONGRESSIONAL HISTORIESNewt Gingrich and Rick Santorum are sparring over each other's roles in Congress.
In a debate Thursday, Santorum said Gingrich was undisciplined as House speaker and couldn't enact legislation despite coming up with an "idea a minute."
Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator and congressman. said he exposed a scandal in the early 1990s involving members of Congress bouncing checks at the House bank. Santorum said Gingrich never spoke out about that at the time.
Gingrich said he challenged his own party to push for reforms that eventually succeeded in Republicans winning a majority in the
House in 1994.
Santorum said he wasn't as flashy as Gingrich but was steady and could get things done.
ROMNEY'S TAXESMitt Romney says he'll release multiple years of his tax returns - but not before South Carolina votes on Saturday.
The former Massachusetts governor says his 2011 taxes aren't ready to release yet.
During Thursday night's GOP debate, Romney defended his decision not to release any of his previous tax returns by saying that
releasing them one by one will help President Barack Obama.
Romney says he'll release his returns all at once, but isn't saying how many years' worth.
Romney rival Newt Gingrich released his tax returns midway through Thursday's debate - and he's criticizing Romney's stance, saying that South Carolina voters deserve to see Romney's return before they vote.
HEALTH CARERepublican presidential candidate Rick Santorum says Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich aren't electable because they've both supported policies too similar President Barack Obama's health care plan.
In Thursday night's GOP debate, Santorum says the health care plan Romney helped implement when he was governor of Massachusetts was an "abject disaster." Santorum says it is the basis for Obamacare and will make it impossible for Romney to debate Obama on the issue.
Santorum says Gingrich repeatedly supported "the core" of Obama's health care plan before disavowing it later.
Santorum says he's the only candidate who can stand up to Obama on the issue.
Gingrich and Romney are both defending themselves and say they can stand up to the president and vow to repeal Obama's health care plan.
MILITARY
Republicans looking to challenge President Barack Obama say the president is wrong to cut military spending and charge that he's putting the United States at risk.
Front-runner Mitt Romney says the United States needs to maintain its military at any cost so that no one would ever think
of testing its might.
GOP rival Rick Santorum says Obama is trying to balance the budget at the expense of those serving in uniform. And former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says military spending not only protects the country but educates its veterans.
Congressman Ron Paul of Texas alone says he would cut spending, an unpopular position in South Carolina, home to 413,000 veterans and eight military bases.
Santorum calls such cuts "disgusting" and Romney calls them "doomsday."
EX WIFE
Newt Gingrich is denying that he ever asked his ex-wife for an open marriage and is angrily denouncing the moderator of Thursday night's Republican debate for raising the issue.
Gingrich blasted what he called the "destructive, vicious, negative nature of much of the news media."
The former House speaker slammed CNN moderator John King during the debate, saying that he was "appalled" that King would begin a presidential debate on such a topic. Gingrich called the question about his ex-wife's allegations, in his words, "as close to
despicable as anything as I can imagine."
The former speaker's second wife, Marianne Gingrich, says in an interview with ABC News that when she discovered Gingrich was
having an affair he asked her for an open marriage.
Newt Gingrich's Republican rivals are not eager to criticize him on his marital woes.
Romney says it's time to get on to the real issues.
Santorum says the U.S. is a forgiving country and that no one is perfect. He adds that it's up to voters in South Carolina to decide if the matter is relevant.
Paul says the attacks on Gingrich are being generated by the media. But he adds that he's proud his wife of 54 years is with
him.
TAXESRepublican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich owed $613,517 in federal taxes in 2010 on more $3.1 million in income.
Tax returns released Thursday evening show the former House speaker owed roughly 31.6 percent of his adjusted income in taxes, giving about 2 percent to charity. Gingrich took aim at rival and multimillionaire Mitt Romney this week for paying only 15 percent.
Personal financial disclosure forms filed last summer show Gingrich is worth more than $6.5 million. He reported at least
$500,000 in assets from Gingrich Productions, his media company that produces books and films.
The election is taking place during a critical time in the American economy, when voters say jobs are among the most important
issues in deciding whom they want in the White House.
