Romney and Perry spar in debate

QUICK to tangle, Republican presidential rivals Rick Perry and Mitt Romney sparred vigorously over job creation and social security in a feisty campaign debate that marked a contentious new turn in the race to pick a 2012 challenger to President Barack Obama.

Far more than in earlier Republican debates this summer, the candidates mixed it up in their first face-off since Perry entered the race and almost instantly overtook Romney as front-runner in opinion polls.

Those two — as well as the other six contenders on stage — sniped at one another, contradicted allegations and interrupted questioners to demand opportunities to take each other on.