In GOP debate, Romney takes fire from all sides

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Most of the Republican presidential candidates finally found something to agree on during their debate here Saturday night – attacking Mitt Romney.

{mosads}The former Massachusetts governor repeatedly weathered shots from his main rivals at the first of two debates at Saint Anselm College. On issues ranging from healthcare to the Iraq troop surge to immigration, Romney found himself playing defense against hits from Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), who is vying for a win here, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who bested Romney in Iowa, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Each of Romney’s three main rivals have clear reasons to push for his defeat in New Hampshire, where the former governor was until recently viewed as the favorite.

McCain, after a near-death political experience last summer, has risen from the ashes in New Hampshire, and most agree that he needs to fend off Romney here to move forward with any chance at the nomination.

Huckabee, who won a convincing victory in Iowa last Thursday, has never been considered a strong contender in a state where Republicans tend to favor more socially moderate, anti-tax platforms. A Romney defeat would ensure Huckabee has life until the contests return to states more favorable to the former Arkansas governor, such as South Carolina.

Giuliani, who essentially bypassed Iowa and has for the most part made only a cursory effort in New Hampshire, clearly needs different winners in each of the early states, as a divided party would keep him viable until the battle reaches bigger, delegate-rich states like Florida, New York and New Jersey where he polls well.

At Saturday night’s debate, Huckabee went after Romney as the two argued about who supported President Bush’s troop surge policy first, with Huckabee managing to get in a dig about what he says are Romney’s flip-flopping positions.

Huckabee said he supported the surge when Romney did not, an assertion vehemently disputed by the Romney campaign.

One of the more prolonged skirmishes of the night was fought between Romney and McCain over immigration policy and the GOP evil buzzword that is “amnesty.”

Later, when the candidates were asked about a possible race between themselves and Iowa’s Democratic champ, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), McCain managed to lob a flip-flop attack of his own at Romney.

After Romney said that both he and Obama are candidates that represent change. McCain took that opening to suggest Romney only represents change of positions.

“We disagree on a lot of issues, but I agree that you are the candidate of change,” McCain said to laughter.

In fact, most of the evening’s zingers were at Romney’s expense and directed at what his rivals clearly see as his biggest weakness.

In the post-debate spin room, Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said the governor was targeted because he enjoys a wealth of support in New Hampshire and other early states.

“If they’re ignoring you, then they’re not worried about you,” Madden said.

Madden added that the “snide remarks” and “attacks that are personal” are not what voters will respond to. Madden said Romney stands out in a debate like Saturday nights’ because the repeated attacks give him multiple opportunities to show his policy knowledge.

Mike DuHaime, Giuliani’s campaign manager, seemed to be hard-pressed to conceal his joy that Romney was everybody’s target.

A smiling DuHaime noted that from the beginning of the campaign, the Giuliani team has always believed that for Romney and McCain, New Hampshire is a must-win.

Back to back losses for Romney in Iowa and New Hampshire, with the early states splitting between the other candidates, appear to have become a key part of the Giuliani strategy.