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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Republican rivals go head-to-head | Republican rivals go head-to-head |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Ten Republicans hoping to represent their party in the 2008 presidential elections have held a live TV debate in the US state of New Hampshire. | |
| The Iraq war and divisions over illegal immigration dominated the event. | |
| Sen John McCain, who alone among the candidates supports a controversial immigration bill, said it was "necessary for national security". | Sen John McCain, who alone among the candidates supports a controversial immigration bill, said it was "necessary for national security". |
| He faced a strong challenge from former New York mayor Rudi Giuliani and the ex-Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney. | |
| The debate, the third in a series, took place on the stage where eight Democratic candidates held their most recent debate two days ago, which was dominated by Iraq. | The debate, the third in a series, took place on the stage where eight Democratic candidates held their most recent debate two days ago, which was dominated by Iraq. |
| New Hampshire is the state holding America's first primary vote next January. Americans will elect a new president in November 2008. | New Hampshire is the state holding America's first primary vote next January. Americans will elect a new president in November 2008. |
| Open disagreements | Open disagreements |
| The Iraq war featured early, with Senators John McCain and Sam Brownback forced to admit they had not read the detailed report known as the National Intelligence Estimate before authorising the invasion of Iraq. | The Iraq war featured early, with Senators John McCain and Sam Brownback forced to admit they had not read the detailed report known as the National Intelligence Estimate before authorising the invasion of Iraq. |
| The revelation drew criticism from another candidate, former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore. | The revelation drew criticism from another candidate, former Virginia governor Jim Gilmore. |
| REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES Sam BrownbackJim GilmoreRudolph GiulianiMike HuckabeeDuncan HunterJohn McCainMitt RomneyRon PaulTom TancredoTommy Thompson Republicans back Iraq war | REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES Sam BrownbackJim GilmoreRudolph GiulianiMike HuckabeeDuncan HunterJohn McCainMitt RomneyRon PaulTom TancredoTommy Thompson Republicans back Iraq war |
| However, Sen McCain stood by the decision to invade Iraq, arguing that international sanctions designed to prevent Iraq's former leader Saddam Hussein from acquiring weapons of mass destruction were failing. | However, Sen McCain stood by the decision to invade Iraq, arguing that international sanctions designed to prevent Iraq's former leader Saddam Hussein from acquiring weapons of mass destruction were failing. |
| But the most contentious issue during the two-hour debate was immigration. | |
| Sen John McCain is the only Republican hopeful to support a controversial immigration bill that could give legal status to 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. | Sen John McCain is the only Republican hopeful to support a controversial immigration bill that could give legal status to 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. |
| President George W Bush and a bipartisan group of senators have crafted a compromise version of the bill that would also strengthen security along the border with Mexico. | President George W Bush and a bipartisan group of senators have crafted a compromise version of the bill that would also strengthen security along the border with Mexico. |
| The bill needs to be approved by both houses of Congress to become law. | The bill needs to be approved by both houses of Congress to become law. |
| 'A Washington mess' | 'A Washington mess' |
| Mr McCain's rivals attacked his position, which he has acknowledged was not popular within his party, but he said was the best way to address what he called "a national security issue". | Mr McCain's rivals attacked his position, which he has acknowledged was not popular within his party, but he said was the best way to address what he called "a national security issue". |
| Former New York mayor Rudi Giuliani described the immigration bill as "a typical Washington mess" and said it had "no real unifying purpose". | Former New York mayor Rudi Giuliani described the immigration bill as "a typical Washington mess" and said it had "no real unifying purpose". |
| Fellow frontrunner, the ex-Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, said the bill would grant an amnesty to illegal immigrants. | Fellow frontrunner, the ex-Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, said the bill would grant an amnesty to illegal immigrants. |
| Mr Romney attacked the proposed "Z visa" which would allow illegal immigrants to be placed on the path to permanent residency. | |
| He complained that it would allow them to jump ahead of other foreigners seeking to emigrate legally. | |
| Not present at the debate but hovering over the proceedings was the fourth frontrunner, the former Tennessee senator and actor, Fred Thompson. | Not present at the debate but hovering over the proceedings was the fourth frontrunner, the former Tennessee senator and actor, Fred Thompson. |
| Correspondents say he will not formally declare his candidacy for another few weeks but he looks set to be a serious contender when he does. | Correspondents say he will not formally declare his candidacy for another few weeks but he looks set to be a serious contender when he does. |