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Republicans debate in S Carolina
11/01/2008 08:41 - (SA)
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| Republican presidential hopeful Senator John McCain smiles before the Republican presidential primary debate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. (Charles Dharapak, AP) |
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Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Republican presidential rivals backed a blend of tax and spending cuts on Thursday night to head off an election-year recession they generally agreed is avoidable.
"We should reduce taxes on middle-income Americans immediately," former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney said in a debate in the run-up to presidential primaries in Michigan and South Carolina, two states where unemployment exceeds the national average.
"The first thing is not to raise taxes," said former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. "Cut the marginal tax rate, if anything, and eventually go to a fair tax," he added, referring to his plan for a national sales tax to replace the income tax.
Arizona Senator John McCain stressed spending cuts to get the budget deficit under control, although he also said it was important not to let Bush administration-era tax cuts expire. He pledged to "wield the veto pen" and block all pork barrel spending bills that Congress sends him.
Michigan primary
While the debate was held in South Carolina, the Michigan primary comes first, a contest in which Romney, Huckabee and McCain are the principal antagonists. It is unlikely all of them can survive a defeat there, particularly a third-place finish.
South Carolina's primary is scheduled for January 19, and has drawn a different group of competitors. Former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee has made it clear he needs a victory or something close to it, while McCain and Huckabee also are counting on a strong showing. Romney abruptly cancelled television advertising in the state earlier this week, and is concentrating for the moment on Michigan.
The state-by-state primary and caucus voting helps determine who will be selected by parties to run in November's general election weeding out the weaker candidates.
The first three contests of the Republican campaign have yielded three different winners: Huckabee, a Baptist preacher turned politician who was virtually unknown a few months ago, was first in the leadoff Iowa caucuses; Romney, who staked his candidacy on early wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, was victor in the little-contested Wyoming caucuses, and McCain, the early front runner who fell out of contention and is now attempting a comeback, was triumphant in last Tuesday's fiercely fought New Hampshire primary.
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