NPR: Candidates Clash at California GOP Debate

Candidates Clash at California GOP Debate

And then there were four.

Republicans Mitt Romney, John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul held their last debate before Super Tuesday next week, and they clashed over Iraq, the economy, global warming and campaign tactics. (Rudy Giuliani had dropped out of the race earlier in the day and had endorsed McCain.) The two front runners, McCain and Romney in particular exchanged harsh words.

As NPR's Mara Liasson reports, Romney went after McCain right away. He said that McCain is a good Republican but he wasn't a "real" conservative, helping to author the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill, that he opposed the Bush tax cuts and that he co-authored the McCain-Kennedy Bill on immigration reform that infuriated many conservatives. And, of course, he was endorsed by The New York Times.

McCain defended his conservative principles and had a quick comeback about the Times endorsement. He pointed out that "your two hometown newspapers who know you best" had also endorsed McCain, including the very conservative Boston Herald.

The other candidates tried to get a word in edgewise. Huckabee reminded the audience it wasn't a two-man contest, and that when it came to conservative credentials, he could hold his own. Ron Paul argued passionately against the war in Iraq, pointing out again that Iraq was not a threat to our national security when it was invaded and that it is basically an illegal war because Congress had not voted to go to war there.

McCain is expected to receive another important endorsement Thursday. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California is expected to offer his support at an event in Los Angeles.

8:00 AM ET | 01-31-2008 | permalink

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