Debate takeaways: Candidates dive into immigration, spending

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The fourth Republican debate of the 2016 presidential election had the distinct feel of, well, a real debate.

After Republicans widely panned the moderators at the previous debate for creating a circus-like atmosphere, the candidates — eight, the smallest group yet — had far deeper discussions about their policy plans, particularly on taxes, military spending and immigration.

Taking the stage in Milwaukee were celebrity businessman Donald Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, the leaders of most recent polls, and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Trump and Cruz advocated vociferously for deporting an estimated 11 million immigrants who are in the country illegally, while Kasich and Bush called that impractical.

Cruz said Republicans will lose the presidential race if they offer "amnesty" to illegal immigrants.

While a popular position with some of the most conservative Republican primary voters, Kasich and Bush argued that's not a practical position for the GOP nominee to take into the general election next November.

Paul slammed Rubio's plan to expand tax credits for families with children, which Paul said amounts to a new expensive welfare program.

[...] Cruz said he would offset any increase in military spending by cutting in other areas, offering up the federal subsidy for the sugar industry as a specific example.

Coming into the debate, Carson was expected to face tough questions about certain discrepancies in his life story, which has served as a point of inspiration long before he became a presidential candidate.