Seven presidential contenders discuss domestic politics and slam Barack Obama's handling of the economy.Seven US Republican presidential contenders have met face-to-face in their first major debate, with Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, shaping up as the front-runner for the 2012 race. The White House hopefuls criticised President Barack Obama's handling of the economy from the opening moments of their first major debate of the campaign season on Monday night.
Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, was the first among seven contenders on stage to assail the president's economic policies, saying with 14 million unemployed Americans, "We need a new president to end the Obama Depression".
The nationally televised forum in New Hampshire on Monday included most of the top-tier contenders in the battle for the right to challenge President Barack Obama, who still leads the Republican hopefuls in most opinion polls.
"This marks the start of a new phase for the campaign as more people pay attention and the candidates begin to engage," Fergus Cullen, a former chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, said.
Romney leads the Republican pack in most polls but is an uneasy front-runner in a group that has drawn complaints from some in the party for being a weak field.
The Palin factor
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released on Monday showed Romney ahead of Sarah Palin, former Alaska Governor.
Twenty-four per cent of Republicans polled said they would support Romney for the nomination, and 20 per cent chose Palin, who has not said whether she will enter the race.
The biggest competition at the debate could be among candidates vying to become the prime alternative to Romney.
"Now is the chance for them to start to distinguish themselves," Dante Scala, a political scientist at the University of New Hampshire, said.
Romney, Michele Bachmann and Newt Gingrich skipped a lightly attended debate last month, but appeared on Monday with four contenders who participated in the first one - former Senator Rick Santorum, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former pizza executive Herman Cain and US Representative Ron Paul.
Bachmann enters race
US Representative Michelle Bachmann said during Monday's debate that she had filed the paperwork to enter the race formally for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.
Bachmann could be a natural for the role of Romney alternative. Her fiery attacks on Obama, Washington insiders and even her own party's leaders have made her a hit with cable news and conservative Tea Party activists.
She clearly stands out as the only woman in the field, but many Republicans have questioned whether she can form a credible national campaign.
Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, also faces skepticism about his future after staff desertions and a disastrous campaign launch that included an apology for criticizing Republican Representative Paul Ryan's budget plan.
The loss of key advisers was the latest in a series of setbacks for Gingrich. But he poked fun at his misfortune in a speech in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
"As someone who has been in public life for nearly 40 years, I know full well the rigors of campaigning for public office," he said at a campaign event at a Beverly Hills hotel. "In fact, I have had some recent reminders."
Huntsman readies candidacy
Former US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman is expected to formally declare his candidacy soon, although Huntsman's decision to skip the debate puzzled some in the state.
New Hampshire holds the second presidential nominating contest and could play a crucial role in the 2012 Republican nominating fight, and the debate will give candidates a high-profile chance to make a direct appeal to state activists.
Other Republicans may enter the race at the urging of party members dissatisfied with the current field.
Palin, the 2008 vice presidential nominee, and Texas Governor Rick Perry are among those considering a run.
"The first debate felt like a junior varsity game. This one is still missing a few players, but it feels like the varsity," Dan Schnur, an aide on Republican John McCain's 2000 presidential run, said.
Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, was the first among seven contenders on stage to assail the president's economic policies, saying with 14 million unemployed Americans, "We need a new president to end the Obama Depression".
The nationally televised forum in New Hampshire on Monday included most of the top-tier contenders in the battle for the right to challenge President Barack Obama, who still leads the Republican hopefuls in most opinion polls.
"This marks the start of a new phase for the campaign as more people pay attention and the candidates begin to engage," Fergus Cullen, a former chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, said.
Romney leads the Republican pack in most polls but is an uneasy front-runner in a group that has drawn complaints from some in the party for being a weak field.
The Palin factor
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released on Monday showed Romney ahead of Sarah Palin, former Alaska Governor.
Twenty-four per cent of Republicans polled said they would support Romney for the nomination, and 20 per cent chose Palin, who has not said whether she will enter the race.
The biggest competition at the debate could be among candidates vying to become the prime alternative to Romney.
"Now is the chance for them to start to distinguish themselves," Dante Scala, a political scientist at the University of New Hampshire, said.
Romney, Michele Bachmann and Newt Gingrich skipped a lightly attended debate last month, but appeared on Monday with four contenders who participated in the first one - former Senator Rick Santorum, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former pizza executive Herman Cain and US Representative Ron Paul.
Bachmann enters race
US Representative Michelle Bachmann said during Monday's debate that she had filed the paperwork to enter the race formally for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.
Bachmann could be a natural for the role of Romney alternative. Her fiery attacks on Obama, Washington insiders and even her own party's leaders have made her a hit with cable news and conservative Tea Party activists.
She clearly stands out as the only woman in the field, but many Republicans have questioned whether she can form a credible national campaign.
Gingrich, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, also faces skepticism about his future after staff desertions and a disastrous campaign launch that included an apology for criticizing Republican Representative Paul Ryan's budget plan.
The loss of key advisers was the latest in a series of setbacks for Gingrich. But he poked fun at his misfortune in a speech in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
"As someone who has been in public life for nearly 40 years, I know full well the rigors of campaigning for public office," he said at a campaign event at a Beverly Hills hotel. "In fact, I have had some recent reminders."
Huntsman readies candidacy
Former US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman is expected to formally declare his candidacy soon, although Huntsman's decision to skip the debate puzzled some in the state.
New Hampshire holds the second presidential nominating contest and could play a crucial role in the 2012 Republican nominating fight, and the debate will give candidates a high-profile chance to make a direct appeal to state activists.
Other Republicans may enter the race at the urging of party members dissatisfied with the current field.
Palin, the 2008 vice presidential nominee, and Texas Governor Rick Perry are among those considering a run.
"The first debate felt like a junior varsity game. This one is still missing a few players, but it feels like the varsity," Dan Schnur, an aide on Republican John McCain's 2000 presidential run, said.
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