Republican debate: contenders distance themselves from Bush

MUCH of the US Republican presidential debate this week focused on Iraq and immigration, as 10 hopefuls aired their views on war, immigration reform and conservation.

The three frontrunners, Senator John McCain, former mayor Rudy Giuliani and former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney left little room for the second-tier candidates to break through, in what was a low-key debate with few surprises.

Jim Gilmore, former governor of Virginia called the front-runners ‘‘Rudy McRomney’’, accusing them of not being a conservative ticket.