Romney back in presidential race after feisty debate

A CONFIDENT Mitt Romney criticised his Republican rivals and fended off attacks at a feisty deb-ate that could help reinstall him as the party’s presidential frontrunner.

Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, slugged it out with Texas governor Rick Perry and overshadowed Herman Cain, his two main challengers for the nomination to take on President Barack Obama in 2012. Perry finally showed signs of life after four shaky debates and Cain suffered no knockout blows.

Seeking to convince sceptical conservatives to get behind him, Romney fought off a number of attacks from Perry.