Republican presidential candidates came to blows last night during a debate hosted by CNN/YouTube. It was a close call, but it seems like Mike Huckabee may have reigned supreme in this match, he is definitely giving the front-runners a run for the money. Rudy Giuliani may have taken his tough-guy image a little too far. In a sharp exchange with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Giuliani accused Romney of employing illegal immigrants. Romney fought back, accusing the former New York City mayor of trying to divert attention from his record on immigration. The sparring didn’t start or stop there, check out the YouTube video for highlights.
Republican rivals come out swinging
Giuliani, Romney escalate their war of words in debate by Michael D. Shear,Dan Balz, Washington Post
(11-29) 04:00 PST St. Petersburg, Fla. -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani clashed sharply at the opening of a Republican presidential debate Wednesday, each accusing the other of ignoring laws against illegal immigration and distorting one another's records on the issue.
The two candidates carried the war of words that had escalated over the weekend to the stage in Florida on Wednesday night, setting a confrontational tone at the outset of the CNN-YouTube debate that was quickly picked up by several other candidates.
Within minutes, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado and Rep. Duncan Hunter of Alpine (San Diego County) joined the battle.
The eight Republican candidates encountered a range of questions, including abortion, gun control from a gun wielding NRA member and farm subsidies from a man eating an ear of corn. They were even asked if they believed every word in the Bible by a man holding one, and a question on the powers of the vice president from a gun-toting cartoon-version of Dick Cheney.
The exchanges underscored the concerns of all the leading candidates as they jockey for advantage with only five weeks remaining until the Iowa caucuses, and no contender with a clear edge in the battle for the GOP nomination.
Giuliani got the opening question in the form of a video submitted by a New Yorker, who challenged him for running a sanctuary city for illegal aliens as mayor.
"The reality is, New York was not a sanctuary city," Giuliani responded, noting areas of exception to enforcing the laws on his watch that he said were necessary to maintain the health and safety of all city residents. When Romney accused Giuliani of ignoring the laws and of welcoming illegal immigrants to New York, Giuliani attacked him for employing illegal immigrants at his home. "I would say he had a sanctuary mansion," Giuliani said. Click here for the full story
Shelley Wynter of "The Right Side with Shelley Wynter" is host to 1380 AM WAOK, weekdays from 2 - 6 PM. He is acclaimed as being a Black Conservative. Visit him at www.ShelleyWynter.com.
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