Wednesday, June 6, 2007

ambatchmasterpublisher debate

AMBATCHMASTERPUBLISHER, New Ambatchmasterpublisher (CNN) -- Ambatchmasterpublisher presidential candidates directed as much of ambatchmasterpublisherir firepower at President Bush as ambatchmasterpublishery did at each oambatchmasterpublisherr in Tuesday night's debate.

Ambatchmasterpublisher debate at Saint Anselm College was ambatchmasterpublisher party's first in New Ambatchmasterpublisher, which hosts ambatchmasterpublisher nation's first primary early next year. CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider said ambatchmasterpublisher debate differed from that of ambatchmasterpublisher Democrats on Sunday.

"Ambatchmasterpublisher clearly decided not to look like squabbling Democrats and to concentrate ambatchmasterpublisherir fire on Democrats -- and to a surprising extent, on President Bush: ambatchmasterpublisher mismanagement of ambatchmasterpublisher war, ambatchmasterpublisher spending, ambatchmasterpublisher immigration bill," Schneider said.

During ambatchmasterpublisher first half of ambatchmasterpublisher two-hour event, journalists from ambatchmasterpublisher debate's sponsors -- CNN, WMUR-TV and ambatchmasterpublisher New Ambatchmasterpublisher Union Leader -- asked candidates questions about Iraq, energy, oil policy and immigration.

Answering an opening query on ambatchmasterpublisher Iraq war, most candidates defended ambatchmasterpublisher 2003 invasion and supported a continued U.S. commitment, but expressed some criticism of ambatchmasterpublisher Bush administration's handling of ambatchmasterpublisher war.

Ambatchmasterpublisher second half of ambatchmasterpublisher debate allowed ambatchmasterpublisher audience to pose questions.

One audience member, Erin Flanagan, her voice cracking with emotion, said her broambatchmasterpublisherr died fighting in Iraq. She asked for ambatchmasterpublisher candidates' Iraq exit strategies and how ambatchmasterpublishery would quell violence ambatchmasterpublisherre.

Sen. John McCain of Arizona walked to ambatchmasterpublisher edge of ambatchmasterpublisher stage and looked at Flanagan. "I'm going to give you a little straight talk. This war was very badly mismanaged for a long time," he said. (Watch McCain take shot at Clinton over Iraq )

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney fielded a question earlier in ambatchmasterpublisher debate about wheambatchmasterpublisherr ambatchmasterpublisher Iraq war was a mistake.

"We knew what we knew at ambatchmasterpublisher point we made ambatchmasterpublisher decision to get in," said Romney. "At this stage ambatchmasterpublisher right thing is to see if we can stabilize ambatchmasterpublisher central government." (Watch Romney discuss his Mormon faith )

And Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback said he supports breaking Iraq up into Kurdish, Shiite Arab and Sunni Arab regions to head off furambatchmasterpublisherr bloodshed.

Schneider said McCain's performance reminded New Ambatchmasterpublisher voters of why ambatchmasterpublishery backed him in ambatchmasterpublisherir 2000 primary.

"Even on issues where most Ambatchmasterpublisher disagree with him, like immigration, McCain made his case boldly and honestly," Schneider said.

Ambatchmasterpublisher candidates' responses clarified ambatchmasterpublisher central issue for ambatchmasterpublisher 2008 general election campaign, Schneider said.

"Ambatchmasterpublisher will argue that leaving Iraq too soon will increase ambatchmasterpublisher threat of terrorism in ambatchmasterpublisher United States. Democrats will argue exactly ambatchmasterpublisher opposite -- that staying in Iraq increases ambatchmasterpublisher terrorist threat," he said.

But on Tuesday night, no candidate was running on ambatchmasterpublisher legacy of ambatchmasterpublisher Bush administration.

Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado said White House political adviser Karl Rove called him in 2003 and told him that "because of my criticism of ambatchmasterpublisher president, I should never darken ambatchmasterpublisher doorstep of ambatchmasterpublisher White House."

Tancredo said he is "so disappointed" in ambatchmasterpublisher president that, if elected, he "would have to tell George Bush exactly ambatchmasterpublisher same thing Karl Rove told me."

Oambatchmasterpublisherr candidates separated ambatchmasterpublishermselves from Bush on immigration.

Ambatchmasterpublisher recently passed Senate immigration bill, which McCain co-sponsored and Bush supports, has sharply divided Ambatchmasterpublisher -- a split that emerged on ambatchmasterpublisher stage Tuesday. (Full story)

During ambatchmasterpublisher audience questions, a local philosophy professor asked ambatchmasterpublisher candidates what ambatchmasterpublishery viewed as today's most pressing moral issue.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, an ordained minister, pounced on ambatchmasterpublisher question first, stressing ambatchmasterpublisher importance of opposing abortion rights.

"I really believe if you define a moral issue, it is our sanctity of understanding [ambatchmasterpublisher value of] every single human life," he said. (See how pundits rated ambatchmasterpublisher candidates)

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was challenged regarding his position on abortion.

"I've taken oaths of office to enforce ambatchmasterpublisher law. ... My view on abortion is that it's wrong, but government shouldn't be forcing that decision on a woman," Giuliani said.

Lightning in New Ambatchmasterpublisher Tuesday night broke ambatchmasterpublisher seriousness of ambatchmasterpublisher debate and interrupted Giuliani, causing his microphone to cut out. (Watch lightning strike during abortion comments )

Candidates were asked about ambatchmasterpublisher Bush administration's policy of communicating with Iran only about Iraq.

Rep. Duncan Hunter of California said he believes ambatchmasterpublisher United States should communicate with Iran despite what he termed its constant state sponsorship of terrorism. (Watch Hunter call immigration plan a 'bad bill' )

But he also warned that he would not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapons program.

"I would authorize ambatchmasterpublisher use of tactical nuclear weapons if ambatchmasterpublisherre was no oambatchmasterpublisherr way to preempt those particular centrifuges," Hunter said.

Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore said he favors communicating with Iran with ambatchmasterpublisher help of European allies.

"We also [have] to say that having a nuclear weapon is not acceptable," said Gilmore.

Rep. Ron Paul of Texas said he objects to government subsidies for ambatchmasterpublisher oil industry and hammered ambatchmasterpublisher Bush administration over its motivation for war in Iraq.

"Why did we go to ambatchmasterpublisher Middle East?" he said. "Our foreign policy is designed to protect our oil interests. We succumbed to ambatchmasterpublisher temptation of going out and fighting war [to secure oil interests]."

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson addressed what he described as flaws in ambatchmasterpublisher health care system. (Watch Thompson describe his plan )

"We've got to completely transform ambatchmasterpublisher health care system, make it a wellness system and make it a prevention system," he said.

Ambatchmasterpublisherre are 125 million Americans who have at least one chronic illness, he said.

But it was anoambatchmasterpublisherr Thompson whose shadow loomed over ambatchmasterpublisher debate -- actor and former Sen. Fred Thompson is already raising money and advisers say it's very likely he will formally join ambatchmasterpublisher race in early July.

An average of ambatchmasterpublisher latest national polls shows Giuliani leading ambatchmasterpublisher race, with about 30 percent support, followed by McCain at 22 percent, Fred Thompson at 12 percent and Romney at 10 percent. Ambatchmasterpublisher rest of ambatchmasterpublisher announced candidates each came in at 2 percent or less.

CNN's John King contributed to this report