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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Republican hopefuls hold debate | Republican hopefuls hold debate |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The first debate involving Republican contenders for next year's US presidential nomination has taken place in California. | The first debate involving Republican contenders for next year's US presidential nomination has taken place in California. |
| The war in Iraq and abortion rights were among the topics raised. The debate involved the three front-runners and several lesser known contenders. | The war in Iraq and abortion rights were among the topics raised. The debate involved the three front-runners and several lesser known contenders. |
| Sen John McCain was once a clear favourite but has trailed ex-New York mayor Rudi Giuliani for several months. | Sen John McCain was once a clear favourite but has trailed ex-New York mayor Rudi Giuliani for several months. |
| The Democrats held the opening debate of their campaign a week ago. | The Democrats held the opening debate of their campaign a week ago. |
| War 'mismanaged' | War 'mismanaged' |
| The debate took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. | The debate took place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. |
| REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES Sam BrownbackJim GilmoreRudy GiulianiMike HuckabeeDuncan HunterJohn McCainMitt RomneyRon PaulTom TancredoTommy Thompson href="/1/hi/world/americas/6621483.stm">Republicans face Iowa scrutiny | |
| The key issue for the Republican contenders was Iraq. | The key issue for the Republican contenders was Iraq. |
| The war there is unpopular with the bulk of the US yet the majority of Republican primary voters support it. | The war there is unpopular with the bulk of the US yet the majority of Republican primary voters support it. |
| In a debate broadcast on the US cable news channel MSNBC, Sen McCain of Arizona, who backed George W Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq, came probably the closest of all the candidates to criticising the president. | In a debate broadcast on the US cable news channel MSNBC, Sen McCain of Arizona, who backed George W Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq, came probably the closest of all the candidates to criticising the president. |
| He said the war had been "terribly mismanaged" and that "we now have to fix a lot of the mistakes that were made". | He said the war had been "terribly mismanaged" and that "we now have to fix a lot of the mistakes that were made". |
| But he added: "Now I think it's on the right track... we have a new strategy and a new general and these young men and women are committed to winning." | But he added: "Now I think it's on the right track... we have a new strategy and a new general and these young men and women are committed to winning." |
| Mr Giuliani was equally robust in his support of the military mission in Iraq. | Mr Giuliani was equally robust in his support of the military mission in Iraq. |
| And the former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, who is vying to become the first Mormon to be elected president, warned of chaos in the region if US troops left there too soon. | And the former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, who is vying to become the first Mormon to be elected president, warned of chaos in the region if US troops left there too soon. |
| Another thorny issue is abortion. | Another thorny issue is abortion. |
| The majority of Republicans oppose its legalisation. | The majority of Republicans oppose its legalisation. |
| The only candidate to differ on that was Mr Giuliani, who has taken some heat for his support of both abortion and gay rights. | The only candidate to differ on that was Mr Giuliani, who has taken some heat for his support of both abortion and gay rights. |
| Whoever wins the Republican nomination may face an uphill task getting themselves elected. | Whoever wins the Republican nomination may face an uphill task getting themselves elected. |
| The rival Democrats are currently comfortably ahead in the polls. | The rival Democrats are currently comfortably ahead in the polls. |