Tuesday night was fight night in Las Vegas.
Seven Republican presidential candidates clashed sharply over issues including illegal immigration taxes and health care at a presidential debate in Nevada sponsored by CNN and the Western Republican Leadership Conference.
But it was the three Republican frontrunners -- former Godfathers Pizza executive Herman Cain former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov Rick Perry -- who came under frequent attack.
The long-standing bad blood between Romney and Perry boiled over in the debates first hour as the two GOP heavyweights traded sharp accusations and showed flashes of anger.
Romney laughed in Perrys face when the Texan criticized his rival for hiring illegal immigrants to do work on his lawn a controversy uncovered by the Boston Globe during Romneys first presidential bid in 2008.
Mitt you lose all of your standing from my perspective because you hired illegals in your home and you knew about it for a year Perry said turning straight to Romney. And the idea that you stand here before us and talk about that youre strong on immigration is on its face the height of hypocrisy.
When Romney tried to respond Perry refused to let him answer.
You get 30 seconds Romney said. This is the way the rules work here is that I get 60 seconds and then you get 30 second to respond. Right?
Perry interrupted: And they want to hear you say that you knew you had illegals working at your ...
Would you please wait? a frustrated Romney shot back. Are you just going to keep talking?
Yes sir Perry said.
Perrys debate performance was by far his feistiest to date. After surging to the top of Republican polls on joining the presidential race in August Perry saw his standing slip among GOP voters after a series of lackluster debate showings.
But it was not clear as the debate concluded Tuesday whether Perrys aggressive tact would hurt him or help him.
A seemingly Romney-friendly audience in Las Vegas booed when Perry kept up the heat and after the debate one of Romneys senior advisers claimed that Perry only hurt himself by going so negative.
Rick Perry came in to kill Mitt but he killed himself Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom told reporters in the post-debate spin room.
Ray Sullivan Perrys communications director claimed victory and called Romney a slick guy who will change positions on a dime.
He is back to running again Sullivan said of Perry. This is a campaign that is in for the long haul.
Cain meanwhile was at the center of a pile-on as the debate began.
His GOP rivals took turns picking apart his 9-9-9 plan to reform the United States tax code.
The plan would throw out the current tax system and implement a 9 corporate income tax rate a 9 income tax rate and a 9 national sales tax.
The other six Republicans on stage -- who have watched Cain soar to the top of the polls in recent weeks thanks to his straightforward message and outsider image -- were united in calling the tax plan simplistic and risky.
There are much more complexities than Herman lets on said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Texas Rep. Ron Paul called the plan dangerous and said it would increase taxes on low-income citizens.
Perry told Cain that voters are not interested in 9-9-9 what they are interested in is flatter and fairer.
I will bump plans with you brother and we will see who has the best idea about getting this country working again Perry said. Its not going to fly.
Romney said Cains plan would add federal taxes on top of state taxes.
Cain said his plan would not raise taxes on poor people and said his opponents were misrepresenting his plan.
The reason my plan is being attacked so much is the lobbyists accountants and politicians they dont want to throw out current tax code and replace with something thats simple and fair Cain responded.
They were joined on the stage in Las Vegas by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachman who also attacked the Cain plan.
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman chose to boycott the debate because of a dispute between Nevada and New Hampshire over the GOP primary calendar. Huntsman is staking his campaign on a win in New Hampshire and held a town hall there Tuesday night instead.
Tuesday night was fight night in Las Vegas.
Seven Republican presidential candidates clashed sharply over issues including illegal immigration taxes and health care at a presidential debate in Nevada sponsored by CNN and the Western Republican Leadership Conference.
But it was the three Republican frontrunners -- former Godfathers Pizza executive Herman Cain former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov Rick Perry -- who came under frequent attack.
The long-standing bad blood between Romney and Perry boiled over in the debates first hour as the two GOP heavyweights traded sharp accusations and showed flashes of anger.
Romney laughed in Perrys face when the Texan criticized his rival for hiring illegal immigrants to do work on his lawn a controversy uncovered by the Boston Globe during Romneys first presidential bid in 2008.
Mitt you lose all of your standing from my perspective because you hired illegals in your home and you knew about it for a year Perry said turning straight to Romney. And the idea that you stand here before us and talk about that youre strong on immigration is on its face the height of hypocrisy.
When Romney tried to respond Perry refused to let him answer.
You get 30 seconds Romney said. This is the way the rules work here is that I get 60 seconds and then you get 30 second to respond. Right?
Perry interrupted: And they want to hear you say that you knew you had illegals working at your ...
Would you please wait? a frustrated Romney shot back. Are you just going to keep talking?
Yes sir Perry said.
Perrys debate performance was by far his feistiest to date. After surging to the top of Republican polls on joining the presidential race in August Perry saw his standing slip among GOP voters after a series of lackluster debate showings.
But it was not clear as the debate concluded Tuesday whether Perrys aggressive tact would hurt him or help him.
A seemingly Romney-friendly audience in Las Vegas booed when Perry kept up the heat and after the debate one of Romneys senior advisers claimed that Perry only hurt himself by going so negative.
Rick Perry came in to kill Mitt but he killed himself Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom told reporters in the post-debate spin room.
Ray Sullivan Perrys communications director claimed victory and called Romney a slick guy who will change positions on a dime.
He is back to running again Sullivan said of Perry. This is a campaign that is in for the long haul.
Cain meanwhile was at the center of a pile-on as the debate began.
His GOP rivals took turns picking apart his 9-9-9 plan to reform the United States tax code.
The plan would throw out the current tax system and implement a 9 corporate income tax rate a 9 income tax rate and a 9 national sales tax.
The other six Republicans on stage -- who have watched Cain soar to the top of the polls in recent weeks thanks to his straightforward message and outsider image -- were united in calling the tax plan simplistic and risky.
There are much more complexities than Herman lets on said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Texas Rep. Ron Paul called the plan dangerous and said it would increase taxes on low-income citizens.
Perry told Cain that voters are not interested in 9-9-9 what they are interested in is flatter and fairer.
I will bump plans with you brother and we will see who has the best idea about getting this country working again Perry said. Its not going to fly.
Romney said Cains plan would add federal taxes on top of state taxes.
Cain said his plan would not raise taxes on poor people and said his opponents were misrepresenting his plan.
The reason my plan is being attacked so much is the lobbyists accountants and politicians they dont want to throw out current tax code and replace with something thats simple and fair Cain responded.
They were joined on the stage in Las Vegas by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachman who also attacked the Cain plan.
Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman chose to boycott the debate because of a dispute between Nevada and New Hampshire over the GOP primary calendar. Huntsman is staking his campaign on a win in New Hampshire and held a town hall there Tuesday night instead.
