The Republican Debate, GOP Presidential Candidates

The Republican Debate, GOP Presidential Candidates: The chances of Texas governor Rick Perry becoming front-runner for the Republican nomination to accept Barack Obama rose on Thursday later a lacklustre showing by other candidates in the greatest debate so far. Perry's office confirmed on Thursday he's planning to declare that he will conjoin the race on Saturday at a conservative conference in Charleston, South Carolina. Perry's entry came too late for him to participate in Thursday's debate in Ames, Iowa. It was an significant debate, coming at the start of 3 hectic days of campaigning in the state where the 1st of the Republican caucuses is regular to be held in February. 8 announced candidates took part but no clear succeeder emerged from what was a mostly dull two hours. It was enlivened only by lively personal exchanges between Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and the former governor of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty, whose campaign is faltering. Asked about Perry's imminent arrival in the race, the candidates were polite, with one describing him as formidable and another receiving both him and Sarah Palin, should she select to stand. Palin is scheduled to make a world appearance in Iowa on Fri. Pawlenty badly needs to revive his campaign by doing well in the Iowa straw poll on Sat, a traditional test of would-be presidential candidates. If he fails, he could see his continuing financial backers desert him. Under pressure, his main target was predictably Bachmann, succeeder of the previous debate in New Hampshire and who's leading in the polls in Iowa. Adopting a patronising tone, he said Bachmann had done little in her 5 years in Congress. "She has done some fantastic things in her life but it is an indisputable fact that her record of accomplishment and results is nonexistent," Pawlenty said, trying to compensate for his failure to make an effect in the New Hampshire debate and shed his picture of dullness. But he picked on the wrong candidate. Bachmann came back recalling his record in office as governor on health, energy and trade. "That sounds a lot more like Barack Obama's record," she said. She also raised his record on abortion, a litmus issue for Republicans. Later a series of personal exchanges, Pawlenty called her position as "illogical". Romney was left unscathed, which his campaign team was glad about. But Perry's arrival could provide him with real competition by the time of the next debate, in California, in Sept. Pawlenty's jibes, which appeared to be prepared in advance, are unlikely to have swayed a lot of doubters. Others who failed to make much of an impression admitted former senator Rick Santorum, Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich. Jon Huntsman made his debate debut. He's struggled in the polls, too close to the centre for many conservatives and also, unforgivable for more Republicans, he worked in the Obama administration as ambassador to China. But his opening answer was poor. Asked for a detailed plan for tackling the economy, he said limply: "It is coming."The Republican Debate, GOP Presidential Candidates