Republican Presidential Candidates Debate in Des Moines

By Mark Geary, Reporter

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By Mark Geary

Story Created: Aug 5, 2007 at 3:24 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 5, 2007 at 7:11 PM CDT

DES MOINES -- Iowa front runner Mitt Romney and Kansas Senator Sam Brownback sparred during the debate, but they actually share similar views against abortion.

"The best way for us to make the biggest impact on solving our problems with poverty, education and crime is to rebuild the family structure and we can do it," Brownback said.

California Congressman Duncan Hunter said his experience would carry him through to the presidency.

"I've worn the uniform myself. My son has served two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. I think people would tend to trust me more than they would perhaps people who go to all the right parades and make all the right statements," Hunter said.

Other candidates, like former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, stressed the need for health care reform.

"Our current system is based on an intervention approach. We wait until people are really sick and then we put them in a position of being intervened. The real issue is prevention and unless we start going to that model, we'll never be able to catch up with the cost," Huckabee said.

Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo said the government shouldn't sponsor Americans' health care.

Taking responsibility for the war in Iraq and suggesting ways to end it also divided some of the candidates.

"If you make a mistake and you're marching toward a cliff, the best thing you can do is march back," Texas Congressman Ron Paul said.

Arizona Senator John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani believe troops should remain awhile longer.

Thompson said he didn't think the war in Iraq was going well. He'd like to wage war against a disease.

"I want to really start this war on cancer. As you know, my mother-in-law had it, my wife had it, and now my baby daughter has it. I want to make sure we have a solution for breast cancer by the year 2015," Thompson said.

Expect to see a lot more of the republican candidates in Iowa during the coming week. That's because they're gearing up and getting ready for the Iowa straw poll on Saturday.

Giuliani, McCain and Romney declined to do interviews after the debate.

Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad told TV9 he thinks the debate went well for all of the candidates. He has not decided which one to endorse yet.

E-mail Mark Geary at Mark.Geary@kcrg.com

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