Rivals dismiss Mitt Romney as business leader rather than presidential material following his victory in Iowa caucus last week
But Romney unshaken throughout debate: 'My experience is in leadership'
By Lydia Warren
Last updated at 3:48 AM on 8th January 2012
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney confidently dismissed his rivals' attacks in the first GOP debate since his razor-thin victory in the Iowa caucus last week.
The debate in Manchester, New Hampshire saw Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Jon Huntsman and Rick Santorum spar more between themselves than try to knock the frontrunner off the top spot.
At the debate's opening, Santorum, who trailed Romney by just eight votes in the Iowa vote, immediately attacked his main rival by questioning the relevance of his business credentials.
Guns blazing: Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum, left, immediately attacked his main rival Mitt Romney, right, over the relevance of his business credentials at the live GOP debate in New Hampshire
The former Pennsylvania senator said the idea that leading a thriving company paves the way for a successful leader of the country 'doesn't necessarily match up'.
'Being a president isn't being a CEO,' he said. 'You need to lead and inspire. People in New Hampshire need someone who can inspire and paint a positive future for this country.'
But Romney, who appeared confident and at ease throughout the 90-minute debate, fought back, arguing 'my experience is in leadership'.
He countered that his company, Bain Capital, had created 100,000 jobs, and that a businessman's experience was better to fix the economy than a lifetime spent in Washington, D.C.
'I'm very proud of the fact that the two enterprises I led were successful,' he said, referring to Bain and another firm.
Romney added that President Obama taking credit for new jobs is 'like the rooster taking responsibility for sunrise. He didn't do it.'
Fight: From left to right, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry participate in the Republican presidential debate at St. Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire
Despite a determined attack from his rivals, Romney appeared to have won over audience members at Saint Anselm College, with laughter and applause rippling through the room as he stood his ground.
As the debate continued, Santorum, speaking eloquently about his experience as a leader of the U.S. Embassy in China, stated he was better placed than his rivals to understand foreign affairs.
It was an argument Romney was unable to counter, stating that any of the candidates would do a better job than President Obama. 'I don't want to be critical of people on this stage,' he added.
But spats broke out among the rest of the candidates, with Gingrich accusing Ron Paul as having 'a long history of saying things that are inaccurate and false'.
Paul, who has referred to Gingrich as a 'chicken hawk' during the campaign as he argues for strong defence but did not serve in the military, was asked if he stood by the statement.
'Well he didn't serve,' Paul responded. 'I was married and had two kids and I went.'
Game on: At the debate in New Hampshire, Ron Paul, left, attacked Newt Gingrich's military hypocrisy, while Jon Huntsman, right, said he had greater experience with foreign affairs than his rivals
Competitors: Newt Gingrich, left, and Rick Perry, right, are competing to emerge as the alternative to Romney
Texas Governor Rick Perry attempted to place himself outside the bickering, interjecting: 'I think you've just seen a great example of why I got in the race. I'm the only outsider.'
Romney's competitors, especially Santorum and Paul who trailed him in the Iowa caucus, are predicted to use the debates as an opportunity to prevent him from running away with the nomination.
In the debate, Santorum, Gingrich and Perry are competing to emerge as the conservative alternative to Romney, while Jon Huntsman and Ron Paul are fighting for relevancy.
Saturday's debate, ahead of the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, is the first since Michele Bachmann dropped out of the race after a disappointing finish in Iowa.
The candidates face a quick turnaround for the second debate, set for Sunday morning in Concord.
Source : dailymail
Related Video :
Around 100 priests from rival groups have clashed inside the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, where Jesus is believed to have been born. Report by Mark Morris. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Posting Komentar