Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney engaged in their most contentious exchanges of the Republican nomination race in a fiery debate Tuesday night on issues from immigration to jobs to healthcare.
Perry, eager to rebound from a dive in the polls, attacked Romney as a hypocrite on immigration, accusing him of hiring illegal workers on his property. Romney angrily fired back that Perry was misstating the facts and in turn charged that the Texas governor has lured illegal immigrants into Texas through his support of a 2007 Texas law that allowed in-state tuition for them.Perry and Romney also tangled on other issues throughout the two-hour CNN debate in Las Vegas, at times stealing the spotlight from the five other contenders. Atlanta businessman Herman Cain, who has surged in the polls in recent weeks, used the forum to defend his now well-known 9-9-9 economic plan from attacks by his rivals.Romney and Cain entered the event running virtually neck and neck for first place in the latest CNN/ORC poll. Perry, formerly the Republican front-runner, was a distant third.In contrast to what some analysts described as a sluggish performance in the last debate, Perry went on the offensive from the outset of this one. During the opening, he introduced himself as a "proven job creator" and in an apparent dig at Romney, "an authentic conservative -- not a conservative of convenience."Getting testyBut the sparring over immigration provided some of the most electric moments. Perry opened the exchange by reciting reports that arose in the 2008 GOP primaries that several illegal immigrants, including at least one from Guatemala, worked for a company that handled lawn care for a decade at Romney's home in a Boston suburb."You stood here in front of the American people and did not tell the truth -- that you had illegals working on your property," Perry said.Perry said people who hire illegal workers "ought to be penalized.""I don't think I've ever hired an illegal in my life," Romney said. Romney said the immigrants were dismissed after he learned they were undocumented.He and Perry repeatedly tried to speak at the same time, until Romney made clear that it was his turn."Look, Rick, you've had a tough couple of debates," Romney said. "And I understand that ... so you're going to get testy."As they continued to interrupt each other, Romney told Perry, "You have a problem with allowing someone to finish speaking. I suggest if you want to become president of the United States, you let both people speak."Romney, who has been the consistent front-runner since Perry began fading, entered the debate virtually even with Cain, who has surged with strong Tea Party support. Romney had 26 percent in the new CNN poll, compared with 25 percent for Cain.The debate was Perry's fifth since entering the race and was the last in a cluster of eight that have steadily shaped and redefined the nomination battle. The candidates have three weeks before their next face-off, a period that will likely be marked by ramped-up TV ads and personal campaigning.A Perry rebound?Perry needed a strong performance to regain his momentum after falling out of the lead several weeks ago. He entered the race Aug. 13 and surged to the top but tumbled after opponents' attacks over his position on Social Security, immigration and other issues.In post-debate reviews, several analysts said Perry boosted his candidacy with a robust performance and could be poised to regain his stature as Romney's chief rival for the nomination.Tuesday's debate also included an exchange over comments by Dallas Pastor Robert Jeffress, one of Perry's supporters, that Romney's Mormon faith is a cult."That individual expressed an opinion. I didn't agree with it, Mitt," Perry said. "I did not agree with Pastor Jeffress' remarks. I cannot apologize more than that."As expected, the latest debate turned the spotlight on Cain's 9-9-9 plan, which calls for a 9 percent income tax, a 9 percent corporate tax and a 9 percent national sales tax. Perry joined other candidates in criticizing elements of the plan while applauding Cain for his courage in presenting it. Perry also touted his own evolving economic plan, which includes an energy component that he says would create 1.2 million jobs."I'll bump plans with you, brother," Perry told Cain, "and we'll see who has the best idea about how you get this country working again."Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a regular in the previous debates, skipped Tuesday's event to protest Nevada's decision to hold its caucus Jan. 14, a move that could force New Hampshire to move its first-in-the-nation primary to early December. Huntsman is waging a go-for-broke effort in New Hampshire.Staff writer Aman Batheja contributed to this report.Dave Montgomery is the Star-Telegram's Austin bureau chief. 512-476-4294Anna M.Tinsley, 817-390-7610Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
