AMES, Iowa — The United States economy and a back-and-forth exchange between Minnesota rivals Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann dominated the Republican presidential debate in Ames, Iowa on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, frontrunner Mitt Romney leveled criticism at his rivals, saying he and former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain were the only two who have experience in the real world of economics.
Asked if he would be the person to fix the economy, Romney — who said the US needs to be more business-friendly — replied, “I understand how the economy works. Herman Cain and I are the two on the stage here who’ve actually worked in the real economy.
“If people want to send to Washington someone who spent their entire career in government, they can choose a lot of folks. But, if they want to choose somebody who understands how the private sector works they’re going to have to choose one of us because we’ve been in it during our career.”
The night started with the contenders mainly taking aim at President Barack Obama, not each other. The first question went to Minnesota Congresswoman Bachmann, who was asked if her goal as president, to turn the economy around in three months, was realistic.
She said some recovery could start within that time, if “not the whole turnaround” before turning her attentions to Obama and saying this weekend’s Iowa Straw Poll is an opportunity to “send a message” to the White House — that he would be a “one-term president.”
Obama was also in Romney’s sights — when asked if he would have vetoed the debt ceiling bill were he president, he replied, “I’m not going to eat Barack Obama’s dog food. What he served up is not what I would have done.”
Former Minnesota Governor Pawlenty, meanwhile, offered a prize to anyone who can find Obama’s specific plans on a number of economic issues.
“If you can find Barack Obama’s specific plan on [any of those issues],” he said, “I will come to your house and cook you dinner. Or if you prefer I will come to your house and mow your lawn.”
“In the case Mitt wins, I’m limiting it to one acre,” he said in a swipe at Romney’s wealth that drew laughs from the studio crowd.
The debate grew more pointed as Pawlenty turned his attention to Bachmann, firstly denying ever criticizing her for her documented health issues with migraines, saying the real headache Americans are facing is the current president.
Bu he then accused her of having a “non-existent” record of accomplishments in Congress.
“We need someone who can contrast with Barack Obama in terms of accomplishments,” he added.
Bachmann replied, “When you were governor, you implemented cap and trade and praised the individual mandate … that sounds a lot more like Barack Obama to me.”
By contrast, Bachmann said she “led against raising the debt ceiling.”
But Pawlenty continued to attack Bachmann, saying she “has a record of making false statements.”
“She says that she’s fighting for these things,” he continued. “She fought for less government spending, we got a lot more. She led the effort against Obamacare, we got Obamacare. She led the effort against TARP, we got TARP. She says she’s got a titanium spine, it’s not her spine we’re worried about. It’s her record and results. If that’s your view of effective leadership with results please stop because you’re killing us,” he added, looking at Bachmann.
After another attack from Pawlenty, Bachmann pleaded for a chance to respond, with former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum interjecting, saying, “There are people here who haven’t had a chance to say a whole lot tonight.”
Also on the stage were former House speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
Despite the feisty exchanges between Pawlenty and Bachmann, Gingrich saved his criticism for the media — claiming the press spent too much time focusing on “the minutiae” of the candidates’ campaigns rather than their plans to defeat Obama.
He also directed his anger towards the decision to appoint a “super committee” to reduce the nation’s debt, calling it a “dumb” idea and indicating that Congress as a whole should do it.
Asked about the absence of Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin from the debate, most candidates were complimentary about their possible future rivals.
Palin has not announced her intention to enter the race, while Perry will formally announce he is running on Saturday.
Cain said he would welcome Perry to the contest, something Huntsman and Gingrich also indicated.
“That just means one more politician and makes us business problems-solvers stand out a bit more,” Cain said, echoing Romney’s earlier words — while Bachmann, when asked about Palin, said she likes her “a lot.”
In one of the most anticipated moments of the debate, Pawlenty was asked about his continued criticism of Romney and his health care plan in Massachusetts — after backing down on attacking him in the last debate.
Pawlenty said he “didn’t want to miss that chance again.”
“Obamacare was patterned after Mitt’s plan in Massachusetts,” said Pawlenty. “And for Mitt to say they’re not the same plan … it just isn’t credible. And that’s why I called it ‘Obameyacare,’ and I think it’s a fair label and I’m happy to call it that again.”
Romney then replied, “I think I liked Tim’s answer in the last debate better,” before going on to defend the plan as the right decision for the state of Massachusetts.
As the debate turned to a number of moral issues, including gay marriage and abortion, a question directed at Bachmann drew some of the loudest — and longest — boos of the night.
Journalist Byron York asked if, as president, Bachmann would be submissive to her husband — referring to a comment she made in 2006 when she was running for Congress.
“Thank you for that question, Byron,” Bachmann replied with a smile on her face.
After indicating she and her husband have been married for 33 years, she said in her relationship, submission means respect. “That’s how we operate our marriage. We respect each other and love each other,” she said.
Huntsman stood alone in his support of civil unions, saying, “I think this nation can do a better job when it comes to equality.”
Romney said he supports a gay marriage amendment, Bachmann pushed her “unblemished record” on “man-woman marriage” and Paul said he believes the federal government should stay out of the issue.
“I don’t want the federal government to have the marriage police,” he said.
Romney, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, took part in the debate despite his decision to skip this weekend’s Iowa Straw Poll, held in Ames, while Huntsman was on the debate stage for the first time since entering the race in June.
In past years, candidates have dropped out of the presidential race after posting a poor showing at the Iowa Straw Poll.
The debate is being co-sponsored by FOX News, which like NewsCore, is owned by News Corp.