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| Republican hopefuls hold debate | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ten Republican contenders for the 2008 US presidential election are taking part in their first debate. | |
| Among those to brave the TV cameras at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, are Rudi Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney. | Among those to brave the TV cameras at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, are Rudi Giuliani, John McCain and Mitt Romney. |
| Lesser-known candidates are hoping to raise their profile ahead of the primary elections early next year. | Lesser-known candidates are hoping to raise their profile ahead of the primary elections early next year. |
| The event comes a week after eight Democratic presidential hopefuls held their first debate in South Carolina. | The event comes a week after eight Democratic presidential hopefuls held their first debate in South Carolina. |
| The Republican debate is being broadcast on cable channel MSNBC. | |
| It is being co-hosted by Washington-based blog site politico.com, which has invited questions to be put to the candidates. | It is being co-hosted by Washington-based blog site politico.com, which has invited questions to be put to the candidates. |
| Iraq support | Iraq support |
| The debate will be the first opportunity for many potential voters to compare all the declared Republican candidates as they give their views. | The debate will be the first opportunity for many potential voters to compare all the declared Republican candidates as they give their views. |
| REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES Sam BrownbackJim GilmoreRudy GiulianiMike HuckabeeDuncan HunterJohn McCainMitt RomneyRon PaulTom TancredoTommy Thompson Republicans face Iowa scrutiny | REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES Sam BrownbackJim GilmoreRudy GiulianiMike HuckabeeDuncan HunterJohn McCainMitt RomneyRon PaulTom TancredoTommy Thompson Republicans face Iowa scrutiny |
| Former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani is currently leading the polls, having taken a lead over rival Senator John McCain, whose campaign has failed to catch fire in its early stages. | Former New York Mayor Rudi Giuliani is currently leading the polls, having taken a lead over rival Senator John McCain, whose campaign has failed to catch fire in its early stages. |
| Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who did well in fundraising for the first quarter of 2007, will hope to extend his appeal and improve his public opinion poll ratings. | Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who did well in fundraising for the first quarter of 2007, will hope to extend his appeal and improve his public opinion poll ratings. |
| The issue of the Iraq war is expected to dominate, with the contenders - notably Senator McCain - likely to be questioned over their support for President George W Bush's strategy in Iraq. | The issue of the Iraq war is expected to dominate, with the contenders - notably Senator McCain - likely to be questioned over their support for President George W Bush's strategy in Iraq. |
| Other issues on the agenda are likely to include health care, the US fight against terrorism and the environment. | Other issues on the agenda are likely to include health care, the US fight against terrorism and the environment. |
| Candidates can each expect to have between seven and 10 minutes air time in the course of the 90-minute debate. | Candidates can each expect to have between seven and 10 minutes air time in the course of the 90-minute debate. |
| California clout | California clout |
| The debate's location in California takes on extra significance given its recent move to bring forward the date of its primary by four months, to 5 February 2008. | The debate's location in California takes on extra significance given its recent move to bring forward the date of its primary by four months, to 5 February 2008. |
| In previous years, nominations have essentially been decided by the time California - the most populous state in the US - chooses its delegates to the parties' national nominating conventions. | In previous years, nominations have essentially been decided by the time California - the most populous state in the US - chooses its delegates to the parties' national nominating conventions. |
| This time round, California will have more clout, meaning Republican and Democratic contenders will be keen to make an impression there. | This time round, California will have more clout, meaning Republican and Democratic contenders will be keen to make an impression there. |
| Presidential candidates have usually campaigned little in California, but used the wealthy state as a source of funds for primary contests elsewhere. | Presidential candidates have usually campaigned little in California, but used the wealthy state as a source of funds for primary contests elsewhere. |
| Nancy Reagan, President Reagan's widow, is expected to attend the debate at her late husband's namesake library but is not scheduled to speak. | Nancy Reagan, President Reagan's widow, is expected to attend the debate at her late husband's namesake library but is not scheduled to speak. |
| Announcing the event earlier this year, she said: "Ronnie always hoped the library would be a place where policymakers will debate the future. | Announcing the event earlier this year, she said: "Ronnie always hoped the library would be a place where policymakers will debate the future. |
| "This presidential debate provides the opportunity to fulfil his wishes." | "This presidential debate provides the opportunity to fulfil his wishes." |