GOP holds final debate before Super Tuesday
Republican presidential hopefuls take Arizona stage ahead of crucial vote. Romney and Gingrich hold steady while Santorum is declared debate's clear loser; all four agree that US 'must send clear message to Iran'
WASHINGTON – Republican presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich convened in Arizona Wednesday, for the final GOP debate before the crucial
Super Tuesday vote.
"Super Tuesday," which this year falls on March 6, will see 10 states hold primary elections to select delegates to the National Republican Convention, where the party's presidential candidate will be officially nominated.
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The four took the stage at a CNN debate on the backdrop of unfaltering polls saying that 40% of republicans were unhappy with either candidate.
Despite sparing no jabs from one another, Romney, Gingrich and Santorum were in agreement that the United States must take a firmer hand against Iran and Syria. All three also vowed to keep Iran from getting its hands on nuclear weapons.
Paul persisted in his objection to the use of military power, saying Washington's actions were only pushing Tehran closer to achieving a nuclear weapon.
Commenting on us policies in the Middle East, Romney said that the US should supply the Syrian opposition with weapons through Saudi Arabia and Turkey, adding that the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad was the West's chance to cut Damascus' ties with Tehran, as well as stop its supply of weapons to Hezbollah and Hamas.
Gingrich commented that the president of the United States could not stop Israel from dealing with the Iranian threat, saying that Israel "understands that three atomic bombs mean a holocaust."
Analysts agree that while none of the candidates came across as particularly strong, Romney and Gingrich were able to hold their ground. Paul seemed a little less unhinged on foreign policy than usual, but the night still had one clear loser – Santorum.
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