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Republican hopefuls in TV debate Republicans clash over tax cuts
(about 4 hours later)
All nine Republican candidates for the 2008 US presidential nomination are taking part in a televised debate in the city of Dearborn, Michigan. The Republican presidential candidates, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, have clashed over tax and spending cuts during a televised debate in Michigan.
Michigan has the highest unemployment of any US state and the discussion is expected to centre on the economy. The ex-New York mayor and former Massachusetts governor each claimed to be more committed to lowering taxes, as they competed for conservative support.
Nationally, the Republican front-runner is former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The home of the auto industry, Michigan has the highest unemployment in the US.
Former actor and Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, making his presidential debate debut, was given the first question of the session. Former actor and Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson made his presidential debate debut and was given the first question.
Asked about the economy, he warned that while it was strong today, the government was "spending money of future generations and those yet to be born". Better known to many for his role in the television series Law & Order, Mr Thompson only joined the race for the nomination in September, several months after his rivals.
Mr Thompson, better known to many people for his role in the television series Law & Order, only joined the race for the nomination in September, several months after his rivals.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES Sam BrownbackRudolph GiulianiMike HuckabeeDuncan HunterJohn McCainMitt RomneyRon PaulTom TancredoFred Thompson
He was criticised for choosing to announce his candidacy on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on the day that his competitors were taking part in a debate in New Hampshire.He was criticised for choosing to announce his candidacy on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on the day that his competitors were taking part in a debate in New Hampshire.
Tuesday's debate is expected to provide a platform for Mr Thompson and his rivals to address heavyweight economic issues. 'Baloney'
With only three months to go before the start of the primary season, when state parties pick their preferred candidate to stand for president, the candidates will be keen to impress. Tuesday's debate was expected to provide a platform for Mr Thompson to promote his candidacy, but he remained a bystander during a heated confrontation between two of his rivals.
While Mr Giuliani leads in national polls, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is ahead in the key early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire. REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES Sam BrownbackRudolph GiulianiMike HuckabeeDuncan HunterJohn McCainMitt RomneyRon PaulTom TancredoFred Thompson class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/5006788.stm">VOTE 2008: Main contenders
Michigan, in the US Midwest, recently defied national party rules to move its primary up the calendar to 15 January, in an attempt to gain greater influence over the nominating process. The clash between Mr Giuliani and Mr Romney began when the Republican frontrunners were asked to discuss their differences over economic issues.
Dearborn is in the heartland of manufacturing America and people will want to know how all the candidates would boost the incomes of working Americans and protect US manufacturing jobs, says the BBC's Vincent Dowd in Washington. "I cut taxes 23 times. I believe in tax cuts," Mr Giuliani said, referring to the two terms he served as mayor of New York.
Mr Giuliani said he had lowered taxes by 17% during this period, whilst Mr Romney had let them increase by 11% when he was governor of Massachusetts.
"The point is that you've got to control taxes. I did it, he didn't... I led, he lagged," he added.
Mr Romney dismissed the claim, insisting it was "baloney".
"Mayor, you've got to check your facts. I did not increase taxes in Massachusetts - I lowered taxes," he said.
While Mr Giuliani leads in national polls, Mr Romney is ahead in the key early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
Thompson debut
When asked about the economy, Mr Thompson warned that while it was strong today, the government was "spending money of future generations and those yet to be born".
[Like Law & Order, the Republican contest] has a huge cast, the series seems to go on forever, and Fred Thompson shows up at the end Mitt Romney
"Everyone knows that we have to address that, and it's the fundamental and foremost challenge, I think, facing our country economically," he added.
Mr Thompson also criticised recent calls for the imposition of blanket restrictions and duties on Chinese imports.
He said he favoured limiting imports of potentially dangerous materials but "turning our back on free trade, that's not the direction to go in".
Mr Thompson was later the target of a joke by Mr Romney, who likened the former actor's late entry into the Republican presidential contest to Law & Order.
"It has a huge cast. The series seems to go on forever. And Fred Thompson shows up at the end," Mr Romney said.
"And to think I was going to be the best actor on the stage," Mr Thompson retorted.