posted on May 15, 2007 11:57:24 AM new
Republicans to Hold Second Debate
By LIZ SIDOTI
Associated Press Writer
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Iraq and abortion loom large as 10 Republican presidential candidates debate a second time Tuesday.
On one issue - the four-year-old war - the GOP field is largely in sync, backing President Bush in opposing Democratic calls for beginning a withdrawal of U.S. forces. But the candidates are split on social issues, most notably a women's right to terminate a pregnancy.
Less than two weeks ago, top-tier candidates Rudy Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney shared a stage in Simi Valley, Calif., with seven underdogs competing for the GOP nomination in the first Republican debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Iraq and social issues dominated the discourse that night, a preview of what was sure to await the candidates in Columbia, S.C., where conservative Christians make up a large chunk of the state's GOP primary voters.
Since the California event, Giuliani has reaffirmed his support for abortion rights after his convoluted debate answer on whether he would welcome the Supreme Court overturning its landmark decision legalizing abortion. He personally opposes the procedure.
Giuliani, the former New York City mayor; McCain, a four-term Arizona senator, and Romney, the ex-governor of Massachusetts, were facing Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, former Govs. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin and Jim Gilmore of Virginia. Reps. Ron Paul of Texas, Duncan Hunter of California and Tom Tancredo of Colorado also were participating.
Paul, the Libertarian presidential nominee in 1988, voted against giving Bush the authority to wage war in Iraq in 2002.
The University of South Carolina's Koger Center for the Arts was the setting for the debate, sponsored by the South Carolina Republican Party and Fox News Channel. The channel's Brit Hume was moderating.
Underscoring the dominant issues, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq and the South Carolina Young Democrats sponsored a 20-foot mobile billboard to circle the debate site, bearing the phrases: "Republicans, Mission Accomplished?" and "McCain, Mission Accomplished?" And, activists affiliated with Planned Parenthood also were holding an abortion-rights rally outside the hall.
--
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
