The Big Conversation:

In the last debate of the year, Rick Perry survived, but Ron Paul thrived.

During the two-hour event in Sioux City, Iowa, as the Tribune's Jay Root and Thanh Tan report, Perry avoided any serious gaffes, drawing positive reaction from the crowd while discussing border security and touting his proposal to make Congress a part-time governing body.

Perry, whom recent polls have shown inching up in Iowa but still stuck in third or fourth place, said he was prepared to face President Barack Obama in a general election.

"I'm kinda getting to where I like ...

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