Oct. 9 Republican debate transcript

Bartiromo: Thanks, Governor.

Huckabee: -- and it's got to be a priority.

Matthews: Senator McCain, this is close to your heart. How would you catch bin Laden?

McCain: I would establish an organization not unlike the OSS in World War II. People who are smart, people who are tough; people who are used to operating independently, and the smartest and most talented people I know. And I would let them loose, and I'd say find this guy and do whatever is necessary to get him.

By the way, supporting the nominee to the party, of course I would support me.

Matthews: (Laughs, laughter.)

McCain: The president of France is a pro-American. I'm glad he's doing what he's doing, and it shows that if you live long enough anything is possible. (Laughter.)

Matthews: Maria.

Bartiromo: Governor Romney, what -- (interrupted by cheers, applause).

Bartiromo: What -- Governor Romney, what is the greatest, long-term threat to the U.S. economy?

Romney: Our sense of optimism. America has to be optimistic and recognize that there's nothing we can't overcome. We face extraordinary challenges, absolutely. We face jihadism, the emergence of Asia as a competitor, our overspending, our overuse of oil, the failure of our health care system, and yet we can't be burdened down with that. We have to recognize that what we have as Americans is the envy of the world. We have technology, we have innovation, we have great schools, we have great families, we have great homes; what we need to have is leadership that'll tell us the truth, lay out the vision of where we can go and actually lead, and I want to be able to do that for America.

Bartiromo: Very quickly, Senator Brownback.

Brownback: The breakdown of the family is our biggest long- term problem we have. You've got 36 percent of the children born out of wedlock in Detroit --

Bartiromo: Greatest economic threat.

Brownback: Yes, on a long-term basis. Because if you don't start children -- and you can raise a good child in a single-parent family. You can do that. But we do know by the broad numbers that the best place is between a mom and a dad, and in our inner cities, you're looking at 65, 70 percent of the children born out of wedlock.

You know, your best way to solve your education, your crime rate problems, your drug problems is to get more children in that stable environment. It's a tough issue. This is a tough issue. But long term, I think that's our biggest problem.

Matthews: Mayor Giuliani, would it be good for the country, for the voters of the country, to have a third-party option?

Giuliani: Well, we've had third party options. I think our two-party system has served us well. I think that generally is the way our democracy operates. I'd like to point out that I think the biggest economic problem we face long-term is our education, our K through 12 education. (Applause.) If we can reform that and change it around choice, I think there's -- the sky's the limit for the United States, and I think there's a looming problem with Canada that you missed.

If we do HillaryCare or socialized medicine, Canadians will have no place to go to get their health care. (Laughter, applause.)

Bartiromo: Senator Thompson, Senator Thompson, this was your first debate. How did it feel?
Thompson: Just like home. (Laughter.) I didn't say which kind of home.

Bartiromo: Do you regret waiting so long?

Thompson: No, I don't think I waited too long. It seems about right to me. (Laughter.) I've enjoyed --

Matthews: Are we out of questions?

Thompson: I've enjoyed watching these fellas. I've got to admit, it was getting a little boring without me, but -- (laughter) -- I'm glad to be here now.

Bartiromo: Our thanks to the audience today. Our thanks to the candidates. Gentlemen, thank you very much. (Applause.)