Nov. 28 Republican debate transcript

Speakers: Rep. Duncan hunter, R-Calif.; Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass.; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo.; Former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, R-New York City; Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas; Former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark.; Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn.; Gov. Charlie Crist, R-Fla.

Moderators: Anderson Cooper, Gloria Borger, John King, Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer

Jim Greer: Welcome to tonight's presidential debate, co-sponsored by the Republican Party of Florida. It is my pleasure tonight to introduce the man who has brought new ideas to state government, and whose leadership has been embraced by the voters of Florida, and who has become the nation's most popular governor.

Ladies and gentlemen, Governor Charlie Crist.

(Applause)

Charlie Crist: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. And welcome to the Sunshine State. It's great to have this debate in Florida, in my home town of St. Petersburg.

It's an important evening. We're going to hear from some great candidates, great Republicans. And we should have fun with it. The questions come from the people, as Anderson said. This is truly the people's debate.

But it's also important to understand what we're talking about: the future of America; about integrity; about honor; about duty; and about loyalty. That's what America always has stood for and always will.

So let's meet some of these great candidates.

First, Congressman Duncan Hunter.

(Applause)

Congressman Ron Paul.

(Applause)

Crist: Senator John McCain.

(Applause)

Senator Fred Thompson.

(Applause)

Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

(Applause)

Governor Mitt Romney.

(Applause)

Governor Mike Huckabee.

Crist: And Congressman Tom Tancredo.

(Applause)

Anderson Cooper: OK, John King is standing by, as well as Gloria Borger.

Gloria, a lot of elbows being thrown on the campaign trail the last couple of days. What are you expecting tonight?

Gloria Borger: Well, I think tonight you might see a lot of elbows being thrown at Mitt Romney. He's really the guy to beat out there. He's been ahead in Iowa and New Hampshire. He's looking in his rearview mirror now. He sees Mike Huckabee moving up on him in Iowa, and every other candidate has a shot in New Hampshire, so he's the target.

Cooper: John King, this Rasmussen poll shows Mike Huckabee right now in the lead in Iowa.

John King: He is moving up in Iowa, Anderson. And that is part of the debate, about which Republican Party -- what will the Republican Party look like when it picks its new leader?

Mike Huckabee is someone who is running on the anti-abortion agenda, as are so many of the other candidates tonight. But the national frontrunner is Rudy Giuliani, who favors abortion rights. Not since Ronald Reagan won in 1980 has the Republican Party even brokered the notion of having a nominee who supported abortion rights.

You also have a Republican president at this moment and one of the candidates on stage, Senator McCain, who were behind that big so- called comprehensive immigration reform that would give legal status to 12 million or more illegal immigrants in the United States. Well, now opposition to that legislation is one of the defining debates in the Republican Party.

King: So, from a personality standpoint and a substantive standpoint, this is a fascinating time as the Republican Party decides who its leader will be and what its agenda will be after George W. Bush passes from the stage, Anderson.

Cooper: Gloria, the clock is ticking toward Iowa.

Borger: Absolutely. And they know that right now, starting with this debate, they've really got to define themselves, differentiate themselves, because the voters in Iowa still pretty much are undecided. So, it's anyone's game right now.

The holidays are coming up. And this is one opportunity for each of these candidates to tell the voters who he is and why he's different from the other guy.

Cooper: We are just watching the traveling press pool leave the auditorium. We'll get started in just a moment.

Welcome, candidates. Good to have you all on the stage. Thanks for being here.

(Applause)

Now, as there was last time with the Democratic candidates, there's been some concern among the campaigns about what kind of questions are going to be asked tonight.