At New Hampshire Debate: CONCORD, NH - Mitt Romney, the Republican candidates made last-ditch effort to relieve their favorite Republican Party on Sunday morning in the main debate, attacking Romney's conservative credentials and his self-description as a political outsider.
Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, Romney's two most formidable opponents on the right, accused the former governor of Massachusetts from the beginning.
Two conservative upstarts set the tag team attack on Romney. Santorum accused Romney of "salvation" from a difficult 2006 reelection campaign, when Romney cast as the others of his time outside the office as a selfless choice, Gingrich attacked.
"Can we throw some pious nonsense?" Gingrich asked Romney. "You were running for president, while you were governor ... You then quickly returned to politics. You have lost to McCain, you lost [Ted] Kennedy [in 1994."
Gingrich continued to go: "Only on one level with the American people. You're running with at least the 1990s."
Romney, facing sustained attack on the debate stage for the first time in this cycle, stuck to his version of events.
"I never thought that I was involved in politics," he said, speaking of his race against Kennedy: "I accidentally was wise enough to realize that I had not the slightest chance of beating him."
Three other candidates on the same stage in Concord at the candidate forum hosted by NBC News and Facebook: Rick Perry, Ron Paul and John Hunter.
The tone is markedly different from the debate Saturday night, the candidates seemed to understand that there is no direct confrontation with Romney - who is far ahead in the polls for the primary on Tuesday - it will be well on his way to claiming the Republican presidential nomination.
Even mild-mannered hunter went out of his way to seek time unlike Romney, Romney's comment on education earlier discussions, swatting Hunter that he served in the Obama administration.
"I was criticized yesterday Governor Romney for my country first," Hunter said. "I want to be very clear with the people in this country. I always put my country."
Romney was reacted to the line of attack, reminding the audience that the Republican hunter was once described by President Barack Obama as "a remarkable leader."
"I think that we are serving our country, first by standing for the people who stand for conservative principles," said Romney.
Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, Romney's two most formidable opponents on the right, accused the former governor of Massachusetts from the beginning.
Two conservative upstarts set the tag team attack on Romney. Santorum accused Romney of "salvation" from a difficult 2006 reelection campaign, when Romney cast as the others of his time outside the office as a selfless choice, Gingrich attacked.
"Can we throw some pious nonsense?" Gingrich asked Romney. "You were running for president, while you were governor ... You then quickly returned to politics. You have lost to McCain, you lost [Ted] Kennedy [in 1994."
Gingrich continued to go: "Only on one level with the American people. You're running with at least the 1990s."
Romney, facing sustained attack on the debate stage for the first time in this cycle, stuck to his version of events.
"I never thought that I was involved in politics," he said, speaking of his race against Kennedy: "I accidentally was wise enough to realize that I had not the slightest chance of beating him."
Three other candidates on the same stage in Concord at the candidate forum hosted by NBC News and Facebook: Rick Perry, Ron Paul and John Hunter.
The tone is markedly different from the debate Saturday night, the candidates seemed to understand that there is no direct confrontation with Romney - who is far ahead in the polls for the primary on Tuesday - it will be well on his way to claiming the Republican presidential nomination.
Even mild-mannered hunter went out of his way to seek time unlike Romney, Romney's comment on education earlier discussions, swatting Hunter that he served in the Obama administration.
"I was criticized yesterday Governor Romney for my country first," Hunter said. "I want to be very clear with the people in this country. I always put my country."
Romney was reacted to the line of attack, reminding the audience that the Republican hunter was once described by President Barack Obama as "a remarkable leader."
"I think that we are serving our country, first by standing for the people who stand for conservative principles," said Romney.
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