Candidates Face Off in GOP Debate

With just under three weeks left until the Iowa caucuses, Michele Bachmann is about to embark on a bus tour of all 99 Iowa counties, and Rick Perry plans to hit 44 cities. Mitt Romney is hoping Newt Gingrich’s surge in the state fades fast, while Gingrich is recouping from the sting of a top Iowa aide’s resignation.


And Ron Paul is eyeing new poll results that show the first-in-the-nation caucuses could be his for the taking.


With the fate of a Donald Trump/Newsmax debate in limbo, a Thursday debate in Sioux City, Iowa, will likely be the last time all the GOP hopefuls square off before caucus-goers make their voices heard.
Bret Baier will moderate the debate, which is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. on Fox News.


Rick Perry’s looking energized and feisty. “I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses,” he said.


Jon Huntsman may be the most impressive so far. He sounds like a man who has nothing to lose and is saying what he really thinks, including, “I’m not going to sign any of those silly pledges.”


Newt Gingrich, looking statesmanlike and avuncular, invoked Ronald Reagan in the opening minutes of the debate, noting that at this point in 1979, the Gipper was 30 points behind Jimmy Carter.


“I believe I can debate Barack Obama,” Gingrich said, answering questions about his electability. He predicted that Obama “will not have a leg to stand on trying to defend a record that is terrible and an ideology that is radical.”


“I’m kinda gettin’ to where I like these debates,” Perry says, smiling. He does seem more energized, more relaxed, and got the biggest applause of the night with his clarion call for a part-time Congress.


It’s one of his stump-speech staples, one of numerous proposals based on the way the Lone Star State does things. Members of Congress should have their pay and time and staff cut in half, he said, and lawmakers should come to Washington only every other year – just like Texas.