Durham, N.H. – Republican presidential contenders voiced support for the Iraq war Wednesday night despite a warning from anti-war candidate Ron Paul that they risk dragging the party down to defeat in 2008.
“Even if we lose elections, we should not lose our honor,” shot back former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, “and that is more important to the Republican Party.”
The issue flared near the end of a 90-minute debate in which all eight men on stage at the University of New Hampshire welcomed former Sen. Fred Thompson to the race with barbed humor.
“This is a nomination you have to earn,” said former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani. “Nobody’s going to give it to you. Nobody’s going to grant it to you.”
Sen. John McCain, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Giuliani stressed their support for the war.
“The surge is apparently working,” said Romney, referring to the increase in troops.
That brought an instant rebuke from McCain, who said, “The surge is working, sir, no, not ‘apparently.’ It’s working.”
Huckabee, eager to win the support of social conservatives, said he supports a “human life amendment” to outlaw abortion. By contrast, Giuliani supports abortion rights and Romney favors allowing states to decide the issue on their own.
Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rep. Duncan Hunter of California called for the resignation of Sen. Larry Craig, the Idaho Republican who pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in an airport men’s room.
Brownback drew boos from the audience when he called for passage of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
“I understand there is a divided audience,” he said.
