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Politics

Debate centers on economy

A recession is avoidable, most of the GOP candidates agree as they lay out their plans.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Republican presidential rivals backed a blend of tax and spending cuts Thursday night to head off an election-year recession they generally agreed is avoidable.

"We should reduce taxes on middle-income Americans immediately," former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said in a debate in the run-up to presidential primaries in Michigan and South Carolina, two states where unemployment exceeds the national average.

"The first thing is not to raise taxes," said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. "Cut the marginal tax rate, if anything, and eventually go to a fair tax," he added, referring to his plan for a national sales tax to replace the income tax.

Arizona Sen. John McCain stressed spending cuts to get the budget deficit under control, although he also said it was important not to let Bush administration-era tax cuts expire. He pledged to "wield the veto pen" and block all pork barrel spending bills that Congress sends him.

Alone of the six presidential rivals on the debate stage, Texas Rep. Ron Paul said, "I believe we are in a recession. I believe it's going to get a lot worse."

The 90-minute debate also touched on foreign policy and immigration.

While the debate was held in South Carolina, the Michigan primary is next on the campaign calendar, a contest in which Romney, Huckabee and McCain are the principal antagonists. It's unlikely all of them can survive a defeat there, particularly a third-place finish.

South Carolina's primary is Jan. 19, and has drawn a different group of competitors. Former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee has made it clear he needs a victory or something close to it, while McCain and Huckabee also are counting on a strong showing. Romney abruptly canceled TV ads in the state this week and is concentrating on Michigan.

Thompson underscored the urgency of a strong South Carolina showing when he launched an attack on Huckabee's "liberal economic policies, liberal foreign policies." Huckabee seemed unruffled.

[Last modified January 11, 2008, 01:35:18]