Economy in the spotlight as Republican hopefuls face off in debate

REPUBLICAN presidential hopefuls faced off in Iowa on Wednesday three weeks before the State decides on the Republican presidential candidate for the 2008 election.

There was a new front-runner.

Polls show former governor Mike Huckabee — a Baptist pastor who played a role in the release of a rapist who went on to murder a woman, and who wrote in the 1990s that Aids patients should be quarantined — had overtaken former governor Mitt Romney, a Mormon, as the poster boy of social conservatives.

The debate focussed on economic issues.

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who tops the polls nationally but trails in Iowa, called for spending cuts and reduced taxes. Mr Romney advocated curbing government spending except for defence and health insurance while Mr Huckabee advocated abolishing income tax in favour of a national consumption tax he calls the “fair tax”.

“That means the rich people aren’t going to be made poor, but maybe the poor people will be made rich. That ought to be the goal of any tax system — not to punish somebody but to enable somebody, so they can have a part of the American dream,” he said.

Despite a growing trade deficit and weak dollar, several candidates defended free trade. Mr Giuliani said less poverty in China and India meant “new customers” for the US.

John McCain risked the wrath of Iowans, who have lost high-paid manufacturing jobs and have become suspicious about free trade, when he spoke out against ethanol subsidies and tariffs that restrict free trade and “destroy our ability to compete in the world”.

All candidates agreed on the issue of global warming but differed on solutions. Mr Romney urged a global approach: “We call it global warming, not America warming.”

Mr Huckabee, whose sudden rise to the top of the polls makes him a target for front-runner criticism, said his new year’s resolution would be to be more careful about what he says.

Away from the debate, the race has taken on a more aggressive tone, especially between Mr Romney and Mr Huckabee, who now leads the polls for Iowa.

Mr Romney’s campaign this week began running a TV commercial accusing Mr Huckabee of being soft on illegal immigration. Mr Huckabee for his part, has become involved in a new row over Mr Romney’s Mormon faith.