Romney Takes Most Fire In GOP Debate

Former Mass. Governor Clashes With Huckabee On Foreign Policy, McCain On Immigration

(CBS/AP)  Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney clashed with Mike Huckabee on foreign policy and John McCain on immigration Saturday night in a high-stakes presidential campaign debate three days before the New Hampshire primary.

"A rather freewheeling debate format yielded relatively few of the fireworks expected from a gathering just three days before the crucial New Hampshire primary," said CBSNews.com senior political editor Vaughn Ververs. "But on issues ranging from foreign policy to health care and immigration, differences were apparent between the top-tier candidates, with Romney the focal point of most all the evening's toughest exchanges. The two candidates most in need of a victory are McCain and Romney, and McCain likely got the best of it tonight, but just slightly."

"It's not amnesty," McCain shot back after Romney criticized his plan for overhauling the immigration system. "You can spend your whole fortune on these attacks ads, my friend, but it's not true."

Earlier, Romney criticized Huckabee for having written that the Bush administration was guilty of an "arrogant bunker mentality" on foreign policy.

"Did you read the article before you commented on it," asked Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor.

"I read the article, the whole article," shot back Romney.

Romney's aggressive demeanor reflected the stakes in the wide open race for the Republican presidential nomination. Huckabee defeated him in the Iowa caucuses on Thursday with an underfunded campaign. Now Romney faces a strong challenge from a resurgent McCain in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary next Tuesday.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Texas Rep. Ron Paul also shared the stage, but they were largely eclipsed for significant portions of the 90-minute debate as Romney, McCain and Huckabee struggled for advantage.

Romney walked on stage with his first win under his belt, a triumph in the scarcely-contested Wyoming caucuses. The former Massachusetts governor, seeking to become the first Mormon president, said the outcome was "just the beginning."

A pre-debate poll suggested McCain's momentum had carried him into a narrow lead over Romney in New Hampshire, and that Huckabee was in third place. It also suggested he had not yet profited from his victory in Iowa, but the results of an election in one state often take several days to show up in surveys in another state.

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CBSNews.com Analysis: Clinton Digs In; Romney Takes Foes' Digs
The Democratic N.H. Debate: Clinton Challenges Obama

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Both Huckabee and McCain jabbed at Romney for having changed his position on numerous issues such as abortion, gun control and gay rights.

"You are the candidate of change," McCain said with a laugh.

And Huckabee, admonished not to characterize Romney's position on the Iraq war, replied, "which one."

Romney's aides were at work challenging Huckabee's truth-telling even when their candidate himself did not.

As the debate unfolded and Huckabee said he had supported President Bush's decision a year ago to increase troop strength in Iraq, Romney's campaign quickly emailed reporters with a Huckabee quote to a different effect. "Well, I'm not sure that I support the troop surge, if that surge has to come from our Guard and Reserve troops, which have really been overly stretched," it said he told MSNBC last January.

McCain, whose candidacy appeared at the point of collapse last summer, sought to stress his national security credentials against major rivals whose political resumes are limited to governorships.

He said he had been the first one in the race to say the president's initial strategy in the war in Iraq was not working, "And I again say that I'm glad to know that now everybody supported the surge."

He added that "I was criticized by Republicans at that time. And that was a low point, but I stuck to it. I didn't change. I didn't say we needed a secret plan for withdrawal."

Immigration emerged again in the debate as an issue that divided McCain and Romney.

McCain has long backed a path to citizenship for millions of people living in the country illegally provided they meet certain requirements. Romney is running an ad that says McCain "wrote the amnesty bill that America rejected."

"I've never supported amnesty," McCain said, taking issue with the characterization and describing several steps immigrants must meet.

Romney allowed: "What he describes is technically true, which is his plan does not provide amnesty because he charges people $5,000 to be able to stay."

All six men on stage sought to weave their way through a question about whether they would run on Mr. Bush's foreign policy or run against it.

McCain said Bush deserves credit for his successes as he should take the blame for failures.

Huckabee said the administration's arrogance was reflected in former defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld saying an invasion force of 180,000 troops would be sufficient in Iraq.

Thompson agreed that the administration had gone to war in Iraq without enough troops. "Presidents are not perfect. Policies are not perfect," he said, although he added, "we are on our way toward prevailing there."

Giuliani said Bush "got the big decision of his presidency right ... when he put us on offense against Islamic terrorists."

Paul, mounting a quixotic campaign, stuck to his insistence that the war should end.

Earlier Saturday, all the candidates made the rounds of restaurants, community centers and schools, engaging in the type of face-to-face campaigning New Hampshire voters demand. For most, talk of religious beliefs and abortion that was prevalent in Iowa gave way to low-tax, smaller-government pitches finely tuned for a state whose voters tend to care more about economics than social issues.

Romney's event in Derry showcased his newly embraced theme - change. One banner read "Washington is broken" while another contained an 11-item "To Do" list beginning with, "Make America Safer," and ending with, "Put people ahead of selfish interest."

In Peterborough, after his 100th New Hampshire town hall meeting, McCain said of Romney: "We have significant differences but those differences will be aired in a positive and respectful manner."

[trinitron01]

Hello People! You have a real chance to get the best man in office with a perfect record in congress-- none of them come close to Dr. Ron Paul. I have compared them. I didn''''t know who was who and didnt trust the media machine. Look up ronpaul2008.com and his issues and record, and you will see for yourself. Don''''t be fooled by the imitators, there is only one guy that can really make a difference for the people. Also Dr. Ron Paul is on TONIGHT WITH JAY LENO - Tonight!!!

[b-easy63]

Romney is not the flip-flopper that he is made out to be. He did change on abortion (Carter, Reagan, Bush 41, and Clinton had all changed their position on this issue at least once) but that''''s it.

Posted by Phil84109 at 02:00 AM : Jan 07, 2008

No Romney is not a flip flopper. He is a liar and like most liars seeks the best advantage for himself and his family not the country.

That is why he LIED and said his dad marched with Dr. MLK. Why he LIED and said he was a hunter. Why he comes close to lying about his stance on immigration, Why..it is okay for Americans to send their children to a war based on lies but HIS family serves the country better by raking in more money and getting him elected and staying alive.

We don''t need another zero. Other than Ron Paul (which his followers have alienated almost everyone against) there is no decent Republican running. Romney is a snake oil salesman--from his grecian formula hair right down to his scheming and beady little lying eyes. Like the Eagles said "ain''t no way to hide yer lyin'' eyes"

[phil84109]

Romney is not the flip-flopper that he is made out to be. He did change on abortion (Carter, Reagan, Bush 41, and Clinton had all changed their position on this issue at least once) but that''s it.

Romney has never been for gay marriage. He has always supported domestic partner benefits for gay couples. Where''s the flip-flop? There is none.

He also has always supported the right to bear arms but is okay with outlawing certain weapons. Where''s the flip-flop here? There is none. Just because he doesn''t own a gun does not mean that he is against the rights of others to do so.

People attack Mitt for his so called flip-flops because there is little to attack him for on his record. He''s created success everywhere he''s been and has never had even a hint of unethical or dishonest behavior. Look it up.

[marinepatriot]

Fire department NY members ask that you please do not vote for Rudy Guiliani.

Watch this video to the end of it. Fire department members and union leader tells the truth about Rudy. We owe it to them to at least watch their video. Just copy and paste to your browser or on youtube search for "Giuliani Gets Exposed As Fraud by Firefighters" :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaCYEEO-58I

Lets make the right choice for America!

Mccain and Mike Huckabee are the best choices.
As for me I''m with Huckabee 100%

Dan Campbell
Sgt., USMC

[denn034]

McCain''s approach to immigration is consistent with the immigration reform and control act of 1986 that Reagan signed so, I have no objection to McCain''s support for Bush''s Guest Worker visa idea.

[prinzowhales]

Candide777--The Oligarchs leave the borders open to keep wages down and to break unions. The open borders also act as a safety valve for the interests of the Oligarchy in Mexico as the best and most capable Mexicans among the poor vote with their feet and come here.

I don''t care if we declare Spanish to be our national language tomorrow, as long as the flow of illegals is ended and we turn our attention as a nation to not only correcting the abuses of power by the American Oligarchy but help the Mexican people deal with theirs in dramatic fashion.

The Fascist Internationale is trying to pit American workers against Mexican workers and destroy any hope of a united international front against them. Keep the borders closed and let the pressure for change increase in Mexico--they just had an election stolen from the people as well...two in a row as a matter of fact...

Mexico has more billionaire''s per capita than the US, it is an extradonarily wealthy country and its leaders have scr*wed over the people decade after decade with the help of the United States--by destroying the incomes of Americans, we are not helping the cause of freedom in Mexico.

[denn034]

Mormon values are evangelical values so, Romney''s Mormonism shouldn''t be the issue. Only anti-Mormon bias and desparation explains why Romney is being so viciously attacked. Don''t get me wrong, I think Thompson won the debate. Go Thompson.

[samthetvcat]

It''s interesting hearing what Republicans like or don''t like about all the Repub candidates. There doesn''t seem to be much agreement, which is sort of where we Democrats were 4 years ago.

I wonder whether the dissatisfaction and lack of agreement is partly a function of a party''s chances in the general election, because all the candidates to me seem like a huge (HUGE!) improvement over Bush.

[candide777]

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! GET RID OF THESE ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS, NOW!
Posted by bhappy2-2 at 03:57 PM : Jan 06, 2008

Don''t worry, be happy. :-)

Seriously, you are what''s wrong with this country -- the republicans tell you who to scapegoat and you drink it up like ice tea on a hot summer day. It''''s the republican politicians who have and continue to ruin this country with their insatiable greed and their treasonous lies. Wake up and smell the coffee, *******.

[bhappy2-2]

What we need is a candidate that supports AMERICA. We have had plenty of politicians who support ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS. We need to start DEPORTING ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS and HEAVILY FINE those who support ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS. We MUST SECURE OUR BORDERS and rid OUR COUNTRY of these parasitic ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS. If our politicians refuse to do so WE, THE CITIZENS OF AMERICA, need to REPLACE the treasonous politicians with ones who SUPPORT AMERICA. Failure to act now could result in The United States of America becoming North Mexico. They have an army here already, they only need to arm them. Those who claim "they don''''t want to take over" need to look around, see the way they have ALREADY TAKEN OVER our jobs.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! GET RID OF THESE ILLEGAL ALIEN INVADERS, NOW!

[heartlandjim]

Mike Huckabee talked about vertical politics last night. Finally somebody is willing to pull both sides together and do something for us. Then he talked about energy independence in 10 years. That''s a bold plan. Then Romney popped in and said that''s impossible. If we put a man on the moon in ten years why can''t we do energy independence in the same amount of time? Mike Huckabee won my vote.

[candide777]

His teaming up with Huckabee to try and discredit Romney with personal attacks should be the last straw for those on the fence about John McCain.
Posted by earthling56 at 10:11 AM : Jan 06, 2008

True, anyone on the fence about John McCain should jump off and throw their support to a true conservative instead of a religious fanatic like Huckabee or Romney. For Christ''s sake, haven''t we seen enough of what religious fanatics have done to this world in the past decade alone? How much waste of human life and resources over whose god is the true god, when all of them are ridiculous, irrational and totally fabricated? It''s time to grow up and evolve past these primitive beliefs; the future of our species depends on it. Of course, the fanatics (including our profoundly stupid president) don''t care about life on this planet because they are all hoping and praying in vain for armageddon.

[likeitis5050]

Mussolini was tried for war crimes by the very people he sold out...they tried, convicted and excuted in a matter of hours...and then hung he and his h.o in public view for days...power to the people.

[earthling56-2009]

I''m so sick and tired of John McCain''s how dare you make mention of my record on anything, I''m a war hero ***. It may not be obvious on the surface, but his arrogant demeanor towards Romney spells this guy out like the alphabet. Totally predictable on temperamental level, and quite honestly not fit to be president if he can not control his temper or his emotions. The forum in which he is in demands a man with more self control than he has demonstrated, and frankly that combined with 71 years of age scares me to death when it comes to him being a president. His teaming up with Huckabee to try and discredit Romney with personal attacks should be the last straw for those on the fence about John McCain.

[prinzowhales]

Ron Paul has been "eclipsed" in all of the debates because they give him scant time...won''t even put his picture in the paper even though they had pics of Clinton, Obama etc.

This is all part and parcel of the attempt to market candidates from the Establishment stable who will get the most support in a given demographic...the hope is that the electorate will be split among them so that theselection can be made in the "smoke-filled rooms" at the convention, thus excluding Ron Paul.

Make no mistake about it, the Republican primaries represent a contest between Ron Paul and the Republican Party and if you vote for any other candidate besides Paul in the primaries, you are going
to get a continuation of ''politics as usual.''

[jhomme]

Quoting from the article: McCain said of Romney: "We have significant differences but those differences will be aired in a positive and respectful manner."

After Saturday''s debates, neither McCain nor Huckabee can pretend to being positive or respectful when it comes to Romney.

[jsilver2th]

GOP please nominate Mitt Romney and give us the biggest Democratic sweep ever

[brianbwb-2009]

No more Republicans, period.

And no Democrats who are closet right wingers who won''t advocate real deviation from the status quo.

In fact, the candidate who uses as a platform summary the words "F*ck the status quo", has my vote, and probably 75% of all the others.

[samthetvcat]

Romney''s kind of a slickster, but do Republicans ultimately care?

Like it''s okay for us to like Obama because there isn''t really any policy in-fighting amongst us Democrats - we''re mostly unified. Huckabee and Ron Paul have that same likeable personality on the right, but their tax policies seem to be somewhat untraditional which must freak out the fiscal conservatives. Also, they don''t get along with Bush.

If the economy is the number one issue for people (which is what the polls say it is), then wouldn''t that seem to give Romney and maybe Rudy the edge?

I don''t know . . . what''s going on with the Republicans?!? So fractured . . .

[feelfree1]

Wait a minute.

Mussolini and Kissinger may have war crimes convictions. I am not sure.