2008 Woodie Awards
Republican presidential hopefuls spar at debate
Candidates touch on immigration, defense, taxes, government spending
John Sweeney
Issue date: 1/22/08 Section: Elections 2008
All eyes were on Myrtle Beach recently as Republican presidential hopefuls engaged in a televised debate sponsored by FOX News Channel.
Thousands packed the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Jan. 13 to hear candidates speak about issues such as immigration, national defense, taxes and government spending.
Though those issues weighed heavily on the minds of each candidate, they also made time for verbal sparring.
Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., and former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., engaged in exchanged personal jabs at one another.
Prior to the debate, Thompson ranked last in many polls.
In Myrtle Beach, however, he came out swinging. He accused Huckabee, winner of the Iowa caucus, of having liberal economic policies, and he said many of Huckabee's stances were "more of the Democratic Party."
"If you're not catching flak, you must not be over the target," said Huckabee, who led S.C. polls coming into the debate. "I'm catching flak, so I must be over the target." Refusing to back down, Thompson continued his attacks on Huckabee's economic proposals.
He cited Huckabee's history of raising taxes during his term as governor of Arkansas.
Huckabee countered by saying the only things he raised in Arkansas were "hopes and expectations."
Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Alissa Warters thinks Thompson's attacks on Huckabee only hurt his cause.
"There is always the possibility that if a candidate comes out and attacks another candidate… the voters will view them as mean, and the strategy backfires," Waters said.
In fact, she said, Thompson might have helped another presidential hopeful - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
"McCain didn't have to worry about that because Thompson did all the dirty work for him, leaving McCain with opportunities to be more positive," Warters said.
When Thompson wasn't going after Huckabee, he was poking fun at Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.
He wasn't the only one picking on him, though.
Thousands packed the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Jan. 13 to hear candidates speak about issues such as immigration, national defense, taxes and government spending.
Though those issues weighed heavily on the minds of each candidate, they also made time for verbal sparring.
Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., and former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark., engaged in exchanged personal jabs at one another.
Prior to the debate, Thompson ranked last in many polls.
In Myrtle Beach, however, he came out swinging. He accused Huckabee, winner of the Iowa caucus, of having liberal economic policies, and he said many of Huckabee's stances were "more of the Democratic Party."
"If you're not catching flak, you must not be over the target," said Huckabee, who led S.C. polls coming into the debate. "I'm catching flak, so I must be over the target." Refusing to back down, Thompson continued his attacks on Huckabee's economic proposals.
He cited Huckabee's history of raising taxes during his term as governor of Arkansas.
Huckabee countered by saying the only things he raised in Arkansas were "hopes and expectations."
Associate Professor of Political Science Dr. Alissa Warters thinks Thompson's attacks on Huckabee only hurt his cause.
"There is always the possibility that if a candidate comes out and attacks another candidate… the voters will view them as mean, and the strategy backfires," Waters said.
In fact, she said, Thompson might have helped another presidential hopeful - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
"McCain didn't have to worry about that because Thompson did all the dirty work for him, leaving McCain with opportunities to be more positive," Warters said.
When Thompson wasn't going after Huckabee, he was poking fun at Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.
He wasn't the only one picking on him, though.
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