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| Republicans target Mitt Romney in South Carolina debate | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A freshly trimmed field of five Republican presidential candidates are holding their latest televised debate - hours after Jon Huntsman quit the race. | A freshly trimmed field of five Republican presidential candidates are holding their latest televised debate - hours after Jon Huntsman quit the race. |
| It is one of the last chances for rivals of front-runner Mitt Romney to check his momentum before South Carolina's primary on Saturday. | It is one of the last chances for rivals of front-runner Mitt Romney to check his momentum before South Carolina's primary on Saturday. |
| New polls show the former Massachusetts governor with a double-digit lead in South Carolina and nationally. | New polls show the former Massachusetts governor with a double-digit lead in South Carolina and nationally. |
| The contenders are vying to take on Barack Obama in November's election. | The contenders are vying to take on Barack Obama in November's election. |
| Correspondents say Mr Romney's bid for the Republican Party's presidential nomination could become unstoppable if he wins South Carolina's primary, following his victories this month in Iowa and New Hampshire's nominating contests. | Correspondents say Mr Romney's bid for the Republican Party's presidential nomination could become unstoppable if he wins South Carolina's primary, following his victories this month in Iowa and New Hampshire's nominating contests. |
| Tax returns challenge | |
| But he came under attack on Monday night from rivals Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry. | But he came under attack on Monday night from rivals Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry. |
| Mr Romney was forced to defend his business record at a private equity firm, Bain Capital, at the beginning of the debate, amid a pincer movement by Mr Gingrich, a former House Speaker, and Rick Perry, the governor of Texas. | Mr Romney was forced to defend his business record at a private equity firm, Bain Capital, at the beginning of the debate, amid a pincer movement by Mr Gingrich, a former House Speaker, and Rick Perry, the governor of Texas. |
| Mr Perry, who is trailing in the race, said multimillionaire Mr Romney should release his income tax records, which he has repeatedly failed to do. The former Massachusetts governor did not respond to the challenge. | Mr Perry, who is trailing in the race, said multimillionaire Mr Romney should release his income tax records, which he has repeatedly failed to do. The former Massachusetts governor did not respond to the challenge. |
| Earlier in the day, Mr Huntsman withdrew from the race complaining that it had degenerated into "toxic" personal attacks, and endorsing erstwhile rival Mr Romney. | Earlier in the day, Mr Huntsman withdrew from the race complaining that it had degenerated into "toxic" personal attacks, and endorsing erstwhile rival Mr Romney. |
| The debate hosted by Fox News in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is the first of two this week in the state, with the next on Thursday. | The debate hosted by Fox News in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is the first of two this week in the state, with the next on Thursday. |
| Over the weekend, a conference of evangelical Christian leaders threw their support behind Mr Santorum, with another group endorsing Mr Gingrich. | Over the weekend, a conference of evangelical Christian leaders threw their support behind Mr Santorum, with another group endorsing Mr Gingrich. |
| The former Pennsylvania senator released a new ad in South Carolina on Monday, portraying Mr Romney's record as Massachusetts governor as liberal. | The former Pennsylvania senator released a new ad in South Carolina on Monday, portraying Mr Romney's record as Massachusetts governor as liberal. |
| An opinion poll on Monday showed Mr Romney at 32% support among likely voters in the South Carolina primary. | An opinion poll on Monday showed Mr Romney at 32% support among likely voters in the South Carolina primary. |
| Meanwhile, a national Gallup poll puts Mr Romney 23 points ahead of both Mr Gingrich and Mr Santorum. | Meanwhile, a national Gallup poll puts Mr Romney 23 points ahead of both Mr Gingrich and Mr Santorum. |