DebateScoop.org: FOX GOP South Carolina Debate Liveblog

FOX GOP South Carolina Debate Liveblog

By Ross Smith 01/10/2008 08:53:06 PM EST

GOP hopefuls Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson square off in their third debate in six days at 9 pm tonight from Myrtle Beach, SC, on FOX News Network (on cable and streamed by FoxNews.com which has a preview.

We'll use the comments on this thread to record live reactions if my internet connection here in Texas keeps working and if the FOX stream works. I'm at a Radisson which features both balky internet access and a cable package that does not include Fox News.

The debate should be closely watched in not only in South Carolina, but also in Michigan where Romney is trying to hang on to his chances after having pulled ads in South Carolina and Florida. McCain is challenging in both places. Fred Thompson is making his last stand in South Carolina and Mike Huckabee leads there and is still rising in many polls of many states.

Rudy Giuliani is polling just ahead of Ron Paul and needs to remain relevant. Ron Paul might get questions tonight about his racist pamphleteering from the 1990's.

With McCain acting like the new front runner, or at least the "establishment" candidate, it will be interesting to see whether or not Thompson, Romney, and Huckabee triple team McCain much as Romney was ganged up on in New Hampshire.

Join me in comments or just live blog it without me should I lose contact . . .

Tags: liveblog, debate, debates, republican presidential primary, elections 2008, South Carolina

< The Metadebate | Another Round of "You're So Reagan..." >

FOX GOP South Carolina Debate Liveblog | 44 comments (44 topical, 0 hidden)

Candidates will stand (none / 0)

Behind podiums, unlike last two debates.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 08:59:16 PM EST

Britt Hume (none / 0)

Best moderator this year (IMO if you forget the 24 episodes), is in the chair.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:02:26 PM EST

Huck wants prayers to work (none / 0)

He said so this afternoon.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:04:49 PM EST

First question recession and SC jobs (none / 0)

Romney, you believe we are headed to recession, why trust you?

R: not necessarily headed for recession. In MASS I turned job growth around. Goes after McCain right away.

McC: I won in NH because I told the truth (ouch). Straight talk is there are some jobs that won'r come back. Says he does not believe we are headed to recession (could come back to bite him in coming months!).

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:08:40 PM EST

McCain asked about short run econ (none / 0)

Premise again is recession immediately, but his answers are long term.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:10:01 PM EST

Huck questioned as populist (none / 0)

Was tucked into the question, but is just asked do you have better short run stimulus.

Answer: long run oil policy plus short run mortgage, but says Bush has done fine. Health care and ed costs. Again, no short run answers. FAIR TAX (took a while to get to that).

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:12:00 PM EST

Rudy, Laffer curve is wrong (none / 0)

Rudy: reality is some tax cuts do add to revenue -- Reagan, Kennedy, Club for Growth (he puts them vs. CBO and Bush economists). Says cut corporate tax. Claims have to cut spending to fight off recession!!!!!!!!! Regulatory reform (which regs?).

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:14:03 PM EST

NcCain, do tax cuts add to deficit? (none / 0)

They "stimulate the economy" (not exactly straight talk, no brave honesty there).

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:15:04 PM EST

Fred (none / 0)

any short run stimulus and are we in recession?

Says Rudy's tax plan looks like mine from months ago. Claims experts wrong on Laffer curve.

Names some economic indicators that are going in wrong direction says there are too many two-handed economists in Washington while talking like one himself, unwilling to say we are going into recession.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:19:19 PM EST

Huck, what part of Reagan coalition is gone? (none / 0)

Middle class and working class Republicans need to be a part of it. 2nd Amendment, too. All parts equally important. Key is include single moms just barely paying rent.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:21:23 PM EST

McCain on Reagan coalition (none / 0)

Went away from some principles, for example Bridge to Nowhere, letting spenfding get out of control, environmental principals of Teddy Roosevelt (hardly a Reagan strong suit -- he said trees were the polluters).

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:22:48 PM EST

Romney abortion services for health care? (none / 0)

He blames it on the court in Mass.

Goes back to Reagan: says we need to appeal to that coalition, blames it on Washington (running as outsider). OPTIMISM!

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:24:04 PM EST

Fred attacks Huck!! (none / 0)

Guantanomo liberal. Illegal immigration, NEA. Smoking bans. that is model of Democratic party

CHEERS!!!

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:26:31 PM EST

Huck (none / 0)

Good joke to answer Fred -- I must be over the target.

Arkansas record. I governed.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:27:59 PM EST

Rudy on Reagan (none / 0)

Peace through strength, contrasted to Carter who was perceived as weak. I worked for Reagan as attorney in DOJ. I am strong. Terrorist offense.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:30:19 PM EST

Paul asked about 9/11 conspiracy (none / 0)

Q: Can you tell those supporters not to claim that?

A: I can't tell them.

Q: Would you ask them to cease?

A: It wouldn't do any good.

Bottom line: he won't tell them to stop.

Reagan coalition is gone -- we are not fiscal conservatives, we undermine personal liberty, we nation build and police the world.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:34:43 PM EST

Terrible question on Iran (none / 0)

Did the Navy commander make the right decision versus the Iranian fast boats?

How would anyone know what the commander on the boat knew?

Huck is right to say trust our commander and Bush on this and Britt Hume is persisting -- what ev. is there that he made the wrong decision.

Fred Thompson backs him up.

Rudy somehow infers this means the NIE cannot be trusted.

Britt persists with McCain.

McCain says he is presumptuous. No kidding.

Ron Paul says he is reminded of Gulf of Tonkin (recently proven to be completely fabricated).

Romney says Paul should not be rading so many Amijinidad press releases.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:45:36 PM EST

Can GOP win if the war goes on? (none / 0)

McC: can the Dems win if they deny the facts on the ground? Clinton retract statement from last debate on "would have to suspend disbelief" to think surge is working. Today is anniversary of surge announcement and I supported it.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:48:10 PM EST

Rudy on Palestinian State (none / 0)

How would you keep it from being breeding ground for terror?

Recog. right of Israel
Trust but verify.

By the way, I supported the surge at the time, too.

McCain: the difference is I condemned the Rumsfeld strategy and called for the surge before we did it. -- No refutation from Rudy.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:50:19 PM EST

Paul vs McCain (none / 0)

Paul on blowback.

McCain said something sounded nasty about Burkhas.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:53:19 PM EST

Pakistan (none / 0)

Support Mushareff in spite of polls?

Fred: Good news on Iraq because read little about it in NYT. Joke about being a slave of polls. Nucs in Pakistan mean have to support Musharref. But he needs to change some things, we need to keep pressure on him.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:55:49 PM EST

Romney and Osama (none / 0)

Romney: it was checkers then, 3-D chess now. General Qyani is our friend going after Al Quaida (sorry for spelling).

Romney not really answering on Osama, just name dropping. No wahabi schools! (Saudi Arabian NEA will not endorse Romney).

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 09:57:56 PM EST

Huck -- where is $$ going in Pakistan (none / 0)

Huck -- no one knows. Need to communicate our dipleasure.

Isreal. Israel. (Call to fundamentalist voters).

Paul: we treat Israel as a step child. They would be safer without us arming their neighbors! Treat them in an adult fashion.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:00:50 PM EST

Rudy gets to answer Paul (none / 0)

Everyone loves to pile on when Paul talks.

Rudy knows people in Israel and he thinks he could convince Mushareff.

Fred says $$ goes to Pakistan military.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:02:27 PM EST

last half hour (none / 0)

time for immigration? Inside baseball process questions?

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:05:23 PM EST

Roney asked about theme of change (none / 0)

Yep, process question -- do Clinton and McCain wins mean voters want experience more than change?

NO. Washington broken is what I keep hearing, health care, reduced burden on middle class, immigration, pork barrel spending. The same people in different chairs will not make change. I turned business, Olympics, and Mass around.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:07:28 PM EST

McCain, was Romney a big meany? (none / 0)

When he said you are a part of the Washington problem?

Duh. No. Surge in Iraq. They call me the sherrif. Tanker savings. Ask Jack Abramoff and his lobbyist cronies. I never asked for or received a pork barrel earmark.

Good job.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:09:28 PM EST

Huck you increased size of gov and taxes (none / 0)

Huck: I signed a pledge on taxes.

I raised hope and expectation.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:11:26 PM EST

Fred vs Huck (none / 0)

Gets him on tax pledge flip flop.

My record, passed 5 tax bills, balanced budget, welfare reform, 100% pro life, endorsed by SC right to life groups.

Huck: the governors were who had to make welfare reform work. We created record number of jobs. Congress is easy.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:13:54 PM EST

Rudy vs McCain (none / 0)

Asked about McCain's claim that 9/11 is not national security credential.

He answers about change and Democrats with a weak joke about change in pocket. Totally ignoring the question.

Finally, says I served on a committee on terrorism in Ford admin, negotiated with governme nts and threw Arafat and Castro out of celebrations and said no to an Arab crony once. Executive means making decisions.

McCain: I have respect and affection, but I have been involved and fought, led largest squadron, not for profit, for patriotism.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:17:02 PM EST

Electability, Huck and oppression of women (none / 0)

You affirmed a woman has to submit to a man.

Huck: religion questions always go to me? Joke about his wife. Says the faith is not something to impose. But he will practice it. "Husbands also submit themselves . . . " Is about marriage as a 100/100 deal.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:19:19 PM EST

Paul, you are not viable (none / 0)

Laughter.

Says we only had "two little primaries so far." Measure against constitution.

Robert Taft and borrowing $$ from China to give to a military dicatator.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:21:07 PM EST

Final break (none / 0)

then back to "one of the most contentious issues of the day." Immigration? Gay Marriage? I wonder what Fox News sees that as.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:22:35 PM EST

Immigration, first with McCain (none / 0)

Audience applauds the issue.

McCain says the plan failed because of no confidence in the government to do the job. I am from a border state. I will secure and have governors certify it.

After that, deport the 2 million who have committed crimes.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:26:43 PM EST

Romney prodded to go after Mccain (none / 0)

Says all else agree that we secure the border . . .

I believe the rest have to stand in line with no special pathway. (Applause). Go home and get in line. Humane and generous. Get in line.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:28:10 PM EST

Fred (none / 0)

High fences and wide gates.

He is suposed to be telling how we would find the 12 million . . .

End sanctuary cities . . .

Enforcement by attrition.

Disagree with Huckabee who fought his legislature on voting and tuition for illegal immigrants.

Be the debater you want to see.

by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:30:02 PM EST

Conced the Hispanic vote? (none / 0)

Odd question to ask Ron Paul who has conceded vast swaths of votes.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:30:49 PM EST

Huck asked about the Hispanic vote (none / 0)

He says those here legally insist we enforce.

I have a 9 point plan. Lift heads up nonsense again.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:33:00 PM EST

Rudy asked about crime reporting (none / 0)

Would have been irresonsible not to allow them to report crime.

Brought crime down more than any other city in history of America.

Children -- can't leave 70,000 on the streets.

Claims he was asked by INS to stop reporting.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:35:05 PM EST

That's it (none / 0)

Special edition of Hannity and Colmes for spin.

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by Ross Smith on 01/10/2008 10:35:48 PM EST

Fox Focus Group Responses (none / 0)

Fred Thompson clear winner. Why?

Clear idea; strong approach.

Came out of the shaddows tonight

Passion for military, people, and solving immigration.

Memorable - humor and sarcasm

The Fox focus group likes the humor.

Thought Fred knew his facts and was personable.

On point. Made people feel like a trustworthy candidate.

Some thought he was flippant.

Knew what he wanted to say.

One thought he was negative and critical.

Alan Coverstone, Debate Coach, Government Teacher, and Academic Dean Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville, TN

by Coverstone on 01/10/2008 10:38:28 PM EST

Ron Paul the clear loser (none / 0)

So say the Fox Focus groupies.

Alan Coverstone, Debate Coach, Government Teacher, and Academic Dean Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville, TN

by Coverstone on 01/10/2008 10:39:31 PM EST

McCain gets the first Hannity and Combs interview (none / 0)

Post debate interview about McCain's 10 point lead in SC polls.

McCain says he has heard the people want the border secured first, even if they will consider other programs.

He says this is not a change in position....Sites Arizona's experience with "broken borders."

"The status quo is de facto amnesty right now."...That sounds like a line a professional college debate coach might have prepped him with, and it is a useful tool.

He says, "Evangelicals fear (deeply concerned) by Muslim terrorism, and they trust me."

Says Iraq is making progress and proves it with reference to specific civic events (New Year's celebration; 5 k run in Fallujah).

Alan Coverstone, Debate Coach, Government Teacher, and Academic Dean Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville, TN

by Coverstone on 01/10/2008 10:44:03 PM EST

Romney Tips GOP Hand on Iraq (none / 0)

Not that it is a surprise, but Romney clearly laid out the GOP general position on Iraq for the general election:

The Democrats have "badly miscalculated." They were so eager to declare Iraq a failure that the gave up too early. Now, the surge is working, and that will hurt the Democrats badly in the general election.

Alan Coverstone, Debate Coach, Government Teacher, and Academic Dean Montgomery Bell Academy Nashville, TN

by Coverstone on 01/10/2008 10:50:14 PM EST

FOX GOP South Carolina Debate Liveblog | 44 comments (44 topical, 0 hidden)