GOP debate live: Donald Trump comes under fire as Republicans finally go head-to-head in showdown

Things are heating up in the presidential campaign... with only 460 days to go until the election

Donald Trump is going head-to-head with his Republican rivals (AP)

Donald Trump, Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz will go head-to-head tonight alongside seven other Republican party presidential candidates in the first live TV clash on the GOP's road to the White House.

Here are the latest updates:

● Donald Trump leads in the polls – but will his rivals risk attacking him to get ahead?

● The full list of candidates taking part is Donald Trump, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, former Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Chris Christie and John Kasich

● The debate will be shown on Fox News at 9pm

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After weeks of hyper-ventilating and anticipation, the first official debate of the candidates is to take place in Cleveland, Ohio.

What has surprised almost everyone in the run-up to the debate is the soaring political ascent of tycoon Donald Trump.

When he officially announced his candidacy earlier this year, many wrote him off as little more than a joke. Now he is leading all the others in the opinion polls (averaging 23.4 per cent) and has become the man to beat.

Immediately to Mr Trump's left and right will be Governers Jeb Bush and Scott Walker, who are currently tussling for second place in the polls.

An earlier debate pits seven tier-two candidates against one another in a runners-up contest which few will watch.