Gop Rivals Go After Romney In New Hampshire Debate.Three days MANCHESTER, NH - The battle between Mitt Romney's competitors took center stage Saturday night, as the candidates a favorite slide switches between career and personal attacks together in a critical debate in New Hampshire.
before the first in the nation primary, the debate and his tone reflected the state of the polls. Romney leads by a wide margin, and four other candidates seem to be in contention for at least the second position.
Candidates who frequently clashed Saturday in the debate - and most of the fighting involved Ron Paul, who is the closest to Romney in the polls and was not shy about reminding the crowd.
"If it does pretty well - Mitt catch up with every day," said Paul in the middle of the debate, outlining his campaign.
On everything from military service for federal spending, Paul went after his opponents and throws them as false conservatives, while his opponents accused the congressman from Texas, to stretch the truth to gain political points.
A heated moment came when Paul, one of the two candidates who have served in the army, Newt Gingrich suggested seeking deferments to avoid military service.
"I'm trying to stop the war - at least I was when they called me," said Paul.
In response, Gingrich said he never asked for a deferment, but was married and had a son and that "was never a question."
"Dr. Paul has a long history of saying things that are inaccurate and untrue," he said. "I personally resent the kind of comments and slander usually done without accurate information and then people just insults."
Earning brief applause, Paul responded: "When it was written, was married and had two children, and left."
The exchange had little to do with the most important issues in the campaign to date - as the economy, the budget and Iran. However, the personal nature of which was the emblem of a race that has gained a clear advantage as candidates try to avoid being eliminated in the upcoming primaries.
Romney won the Iowa caucuses by just eight votes, and that is about to dominate in New Hampshire, while leading in the polls in South Carolina.
Rick Santorum, who finished second in Iowa, is trying to build on that performance. Gingrich is trying to recover after falling from the front of the pack. Paul has shown little hesitation in attacking either of those two candidates, while former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has based his campaign strategy around a good showing in New Hampshire.
Santorum went after Romney principles, rejecting the leading candidate as a single manager.
"The experience of business does not necessarily coincide with being commander in chief of this country," he said. "Being president is not a CEO. You have to lead and inspire."
He said Romney's plan is too meek to tax the country's economy moving again.
Huntsman had a rare confusion on stage with Romney at the very end of the debate on the issue of China, where Huntsman recently served as ambassador under President Obama.
After Huntsman criticized Romney for his tough talk with China and said the country needs a president who understands that the relationship, Romney interrupted.
"You were the last two years, the implementation of the policies of this government in China. The rest of us at this time were doing our best to get the Republicans elected all over the country," said Romney.
He went on to criticize China for "hacking into our computers" and manipulate their currency, among other crimes, and pledged to ensure that no "kill jobs in America any longer."
Huntsman gave his reply in Mandarin - translated, Romney said he does not understand the situation.
Gingrich also criticized Romney. He referred to reports in the media describing how some workers were fired after the investment firm Bain Capital Romney invested in their businesses and tried to turn around.
He said that Romney should be judged on the basis that "in general, were people better or worse for this style of management."
He criticized what he described as a "model of Wall Street, where you can browse the companies ... you can basically take all the money leaving the workers."
Romney replied that Bain Capital has created 100,000 jobs in general and the experience of a businessman was much better to fix the economy of a whole life spent in Washington, DC
"I'm very proud of the fact that the two companies was conducted successfully," he said, referring to Bain and another company.
The 90-minute meeting crackled with urgency.
Paul said Santorum was "a big government person" despite campaigning as a conservative, referring to the votes of former Pennsylvania senator cast to raise the debt limit.
Santorum said he had played a key role over 15 years in the legislation that revised the laws of the country club.
"You're a big spender and that's all there is to do," said Paul. "For you are a conservative that I think is a stretch, but that has convinced many people of the same."
Santorum said, "You vote against everything. I do not vote against it."
Rick Perry tried to return to the debate. Following his fifth place in Iowa, the governor of Texas is in last place vote in New Hampshire. In the debate, Perry stressed that he was a stranger "is not damaged by the process."
There was a moment of light, and even then one of six presidential candidates on stage tried to convert back and forth in his favor.
At one point, Paul was interrupted by a campaign to show the time to speak had expired. "There it goes again," he said.
Santorum replied instantly: "We know that not telling the truth."
The discussion was largely at a time when social issues. Romney seemed to struggle a question about whether states should allow the prohibition of contraception if they wish. Romney described the scenario as "silly" and said that states are pursuing this option. "Contraception, which is running fine, just leave it alone," he said.
Santorum stood by his position on social issues. He asked what would happen if an amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman, said same-sex couples are legally married now "not marry" more.
Gingrich suffered a scam in the last question in the debate - what the candidates is done on a Saturday night if not debate.
"I would be watching the championship college basketball game," he said.
After being corrected, added: "I mean, football match."
The ABC News debate at Saint Anselm College was the first in over three weeks and first since Michele Bachmann withdrew from the race after a disappointing finish in Iowa this week. Candidates face a speedy recovery for the second debate, scheduled for Sunday morning in Concord.
before the first in the nation primary, the debate and his tone reflected the state of the polls. Romney leads by a wide margin, and four other candidates seem to be in contention for at least the second position.
Candidates who frequently clashed Saturday in the debate - and most of the fighting involved Ron Paul, who is the closest to Romney in the polls and was not shy about reminding the crowd.
"If it does pretty well - Mitt catch up with every day," said Paul in the middle of the debate, outlining his campaign.
On everything from military service for federal spending, Paul went after his opponents and throws them as false conservatives, while his opponents accused the congressman from Texas, to stretch the truth to gain political points.
A heated moment came when Paul, one of the two candidates who have served in the army, Newt Gingrich suggested seeking deferments to avoid military service.
"I'm trying to stop the war - at least I was when they called me," said Paul.
In response, Gingrich said he never asked for a deferment, but was married and had a son and that "was never a question."
"Dr. Paul has a long history of saying things that are inaccurate and untrue," he said. "I personally resent the kind of comments and slander usually done without accurate information and then people just insults."
Earning brief applause, Paul responded: "When it was written, was married and had two children, and left."
The exchange had little to do with the most important issues in the campaign to date - as the economy, the budget and Iran. However, the personal nature of which was the emblem of a race that has gained a clear advantage as candidates try to avoid being eliminated in the upcoming primaries.
Romney won the Iowa caucuses by just eight votes, and that is about to dominate in New Hampshire, while leading in the polls in South Carolina.
Rick Santorum, who finished second in Iowa, is trying to build on that performance. Gingrich is trying to recover after falling from the front of the pack. Paul has shown little hesitation in attacking either of those two candidates, while former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has based his campaign strategy around a good showing in New Hampshire.
Santorum went after Romney principles, rejecting the leading candidate as a single manager.
"The experience of business does not necessarily coincide with being commander in chief of this country," he said. "Being president is not a CEO. You have to lead and inspire."
He said Romney's plan is too meek to tax the country's economy moving again.
Huntsman had a rare confusion on stage with Romney at the very end of the debate on the issue of China, where Huntsman recently served as ambassador under President Obama.
After Huntsman criticized Romney for his tough talk with China and said the country needs a president who understands that the relationship, Romney interrupted.
"You were the last two years, the implementation of the policies of this government in China. The rest of us at this time were doing our best to get the Republicans elected all over the country," said Romney.
He went on to criticize China for "hacking into our computers" and manipulate their currency, among other crimes, and pledged to ensure that no "kill jobs in America any longer."
Huntsman gave his reply in Mandarin - translated, Romney said he does not understand the situation.
Gingrich also criticized Romney. He referred to reports in the media describing how some workers were fired after the investment firm Bain Capital Romney invested in their businesses and tried to turn around.
He said that Romney should be judged on the basis that "in general, were people better or worse for this style of management."
He criticized what he described as a "model of Wall Street, where you can browse the companies ... you can basically take all the money leaving the workers."
Romney replied that Bain Capital has created 100,000 jobs in general and the experience of a businessman was much better to fix the economy of a whole life spent in Washington, DC
"I'm very proud of the fact that the two companies was conducted successfully," he said, referring to Bain and another company.
The 90-minute meeting crackled with urgency.
Paul said Santorum was "a big government person" despite campaigning as a conservative, referring to the votes of former Pennsylvania senator cast to raise the debt limit.
Santorum said he had played a key role over 15 years in the legislation that revised the laws of the country club.
"You're a big spender and that's all there is to do," said Paul. "For you are a conservative that I think is a stretch, but that has convinced many people of the same."
Santorum said, "You vote against everything. I do not vote against it."
Rick Perry tried to return to the debate. Following his fifth place in Iowa, the governor of Texas is in last place vote in New Hampshire. In the debate, Perry stressed that he was a stranger "is not damaged by the process."
There was a moment of light, and even then one of six presidential candidates on stage tried to convert back and forth in his favor.
At one point, Paul was interrupted by a campaign to show the time to speak had expired. "There it goes again," he said.
Santorum replied instantly: "We know that not telling the truth."
The discussion was largely at a time when social issues. Romney seemed to struggle a question about whether states should allow the prohibition of contraception if they wish. Romney described the scenario as "silly" and said that states are pursuing this option. "Contraception, which is running fine, just leave it alone," he said.
Santorum stood by his position on social issues. He asked what would happen if an amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman, said same-sex couples are legally married now "not marry" more.
Gingrich suffered a scam in the last question in the debate - what the candidates is done on a Saturday night if not debate.
"I would be watching the championship college basketball game," he said.
After being corrected, added: "I mean, football match."
The ABC News debate at Saint Anselm College was the first in over three weeks and first since Michele Bachmann withdrew from the race after a disappointing finish in Iowa this week. Candidates face a speedy recovery for the second debate, scheduled for Sunday morning in Concord.
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