Republicans Prepare For S.C. Debate

McCain, Huckabee Seek To Capitalize On Wins As Rest Of Field Hopes For Boost

(AP)  Six Republican candidates, one strikingly jumbled GOP race and a ton at stake in the heat of the primary season.

It's the recipe for Thursday night's debate.

Arizona Sen. John McCain, the big winner in New Hampshire, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, the Iowa caucus victor, are looking for solid performances to keep momentum they earned with the victories. A misstep could undercut either of them.

Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, wants to do well to help revive his campaign after disappointing second-place finishes in both states. Three candidates - former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee and Texas Rep. Ron Paul - are seeking a boost for their flagging campaigns.

Immigration, Iraq and cultural issues were likely topics.

By design, the debate comes two days after New Hampshire's primary and just five days before Michigan Republicans vote. South Carolina's turn is Jan. 19.

That state's GOP Chairman, Katon Dawson, fiercely sought to protect South Carolina's first-in-the-South primary status, and maneuvered to force candidates to pay attention to the state by scheduling a debate they seemingly couldn't ignore.

By midday, the area around the Myrtle Beach Convention Center had turned into a political carnival. The six Republicans were greeted by giant sand sculptures of their heads - a Mount Rushmore-like rendering of the big names in the 2008 GOP race.

Their campaign buses - with competing slogans - were parked in a nearby lot. One of Thompson's said, "Restore Law & Order to the White House" - a play on the TV show that made him a household name.

The debate is sponsored by the South Carolina Republican Party and Fox News Channel.

[heartlandjim]

Mike Huckabee won the debate last night. He took attacks from all side and gave strong Presidential answers in return. Even when Fox reporter Carl Cameron asked a weak question, Mike gave a strong answer. Fred Thompson"s "I have to look at my notes attack add" looked contrived. I want a man who has a plan for our future like Mike Huckabee and that''s why I''m going to vote for him.

[Republicae]

Once again, the people of this country are poised to elect another President and yet, from all the candidates there is only one that is addressing one of the most pressing issues this country is facing and that is its failing monetary system.

Consider this: a person making $32,000 per year today has the equivalent purchasing power of $5,907.40 in1970 dollars. So, the same person making $15.38 per hour today is equal to making $2.84 per hour in real purchasing power in 1970 dollars. It is not the price of goods and services that have risen, but the purchasing power of our dollar that has been so drastically reduced that it simply does not buy what it once did because it has been debased by the Federal Reserve and our government.

Our standard of living has been effectively reduced through fiat money inflation. It%u2019s your money, your labor and yet we all just stand by and let this government continue to siphon off our prosperity.

Is there any wonder that poverty is becoming rampant? The government has no other choice but enforce minimum wages in order to keep the working poor at some level of subsistence. At the current $5.85 per hour a person has the same 1970 purchasing power of $1.08 per hour, at 40 hours per week that person is effectively making $43.20 per week to make ends meet.

I can tell you this, if Ron Paul is not elected in 2008, then no matter who becomes President, by 2012 we will all wish that Ron Paul was sitting in the White House.

[thowardone]

I''m really excited to hear Romney debate tonight. I''ve been impressed by him as of late. I also like McCain, but I hate the way he debates, all the winking and sly sarcasm... we''ll see how they do.

[antoniof123]

And the point to this is what?