SIMI VALLEY, Calif., May 3 (UPI) -- With enough players for a basketball game, Republican presidential hopefuls passed the political ball and took shots in their debate Thursday in California.
Ten GOP candidates gathered at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., for an exchange about terrorism, the war and other issues facing the nation. Sen. John McCain vowed to track Osama bin Laden "to the gates of hell," while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said bin Laden "will pay and he will die," the Chicago Tribune reported.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani said "you should never retreat in the face of terrorism." California Congressman Duncan Hunter said he would pursue a "strong national defense, a trademark of Ronald Reagan."
Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback has aligned himself closely with the Bush administration on Iraq. Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson said the war requires unwavering support of the troops.
Also at the debate were underdog candidates Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, Jim Gilmore of Virginia, Tom Tancredo of Colorado and Ron Paul of Texas. Other potential candidates still on the sidelines include: Fred Thompson of Tennessee, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
