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I'll capture bin Laden - McCain
07/01/2008 11:14 - (SA)
Washington - Republican presidential hopefuls Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romeny traded blows over taxes and immigration in a debate on Sunday, while New Hampshire polls leader John McCain said he would capture Osama bin-Laden if elected.
Two days before the New Hampshire primaries, former governors Huckabee and Romney argued over who could better cut taxes, in a bid to draw further advantage over their earlier caucus wins in Iowa and Wyoming, respectively.
"You know, Mike, you make up facts, faster than you talk and that's saying something," the former Massachusetts governor quipped as Huckabee cut him off trying to make him admit he raised $500m in taxes while in office.
Romney, smarting from former Arkansas governor Huckabee's unexpected win in Iowa, has been the target of his rivals for taking out expensive attack ads he defended on grounds they were not personal but merely critical of his fellow Republicans' records.
McCain, who has also taken a drubbing in Romney's ad blitz, appeared to remain above the fray, striking a more conciliatory tone and extolling his past military record as giving him experience in dealing with Osama bin Laden and other terrorist threats.
"I know how to get him, and I will get him," said the Vietnam War veteran of the al-Qaeda leader.
In one of the few international references during the debate at St Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire, McCain also said he could deal with the current crisis in Pakistan.
"I know (Pakistani President Pervez) Musharraf ... I know how to deal with Pakistan."
Not all Republicans vying for their party's nomination to the November 4 presidential elections participated in Sunday's debate, as broadcaster Fox News excluded those who failed to get double-digit results in the Iowa caucus: Texas libertarian Ron Paul and outsider Duncan Hunter.
A USA Today/Gallup poll taken on Friday-Sunday among 776 New Hampshire Republicans had Arizona Senator McCain taking the lead over former Romney, 34 to 30%, with Huckabee trailing third place at 13% and Giuliani at eight.
- AFP
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