This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-us-canada-16752655

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Republican presidential candidates spar in TV debate Republican presidential candidates spar in TV debate
(about 1 hour later)
Republican front-runners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have clashed over immigration at a debate in Florida, the last before the key state's primary.Republican front-runners Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have clashed over immigration at a debate in Florida, the last before the key state's primary.
While pledging he would not deport long-term illegal immigrants, Mr Gingrich accused Mr Romney of being the most anti-immigrant candidate.While pledging he would not deport long-term illegal immigrants, Mr Gingrich accused Mr Romney of being the most anti-immigrant candidate.
Mr Romney labelled Mr Gingrich's claim "repulsive" and accused him of using "highly charged epithets".Mr Romney labelled Mr Gingrich's claim "repulsive" and accused him of using "highly charged epithets".
Florida is a swing state that holds its nominating contest next Tuesday.Florida is a swing state that holds its nominating contest next Tuesday.
Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and Texas Congressman Ron Paul appeared alongside Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, and Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House.Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and Texas Congressman Ron Paul appeared alongside Mitt Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, and Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House.
Thursday night's debate in Jacksonville is the last time the four candidates will appear together on a national stage ahead of Florida's influential poll. Mr Romney has been neck-and-neck with Mr Gingrich in Florida's opinion polls, following the former House Speaker's upset victory in South Carolina's primary last week. The other two candidates are trailing well behind.
Thursday night's debate in Jacksonville was the last time the four candidates appeared together on a national stage ahead of Florida's influential poll.
'Over-the-top''Over-the-top'
Immigration, which is a hot-button issue in Florida, a state with a large immigrant - especially Latino - population, dominated the opening exchanges of the debate. Immigration, which is a hot-button issue in Florida, a state with a large immigrant - especially Latino - population, dominated the opening exchanges.
Mr Romney said Mr Gingrich should apologise for running ads calling him an anti-immigrant candidate.Mr Romney said Mr Gingrich should apologise for running ads calling him an anti-immigrant candidate.
"The idea that I'm anti-immigrant is repulsive," Mr Romney said to audience cheers. "It's simply the kind of over-the-top rhetoric that's characterised American politics too long." "The idea that I'm anti-immigrant is repulsive," Mr Romney said to audience cheers. "It's simply the kind of over-the-top rhetoric that's characterised American politics too long.
"I think you should apologise for it and recognise that having differences of opinions does not justify labelling people with highly charged epithets.""I think you should apologise for it and recognise that having differences of opinions does not justify labelling people with highly charged epithets."
Mr Gingrich's campaign withdrew a radio ad this week that made the anti-immigrant charge, after Cuban-born Florida Senator Marco Rubio called on him to do so.Mr Gingrich's campaign withdrew a radio ad this week that made the anti-immigrant charge, after Cuban-born Florida Senator Marco Rubio called on him to do so.
Mr Romney also attacked Mr Gingrich's plans to establish a permanent base on the moon, largely with private funding. Mr Romney also ridiculed Mr Gingrich's plans to establish a permanent base on the moon, an idea of interest to those on Florida's Space Coast.
"It may be a big idea, but it's not a good idea," Mr Romney said, suggesting that any executive who came to him with the proposal would be fired. Mr Romney said: "If I had a business executive come to me and say I want to spend a few hundred billion dollars to put a colony on the moon, I'd say, 'you're fired'."
During a discussion about housing, Mr Gingrich and Mr Romney clashed over their links to federal mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Mr Gingrich raised questions about Mr Romney's wealth and his investments, saying: "I don't know of any American president who's had a Swiss bank account."
Mr Gingrich said Romney was making money from investments in funds that were "foreclosing on Floridians". During a discussion about housing, the two front-runners also clashed over federal mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The former House Speaker said Mr Romney had been making money from investments in funds that were "foreclosing on Floridians".
Florida accounts for almost a quarter of home foreclosures in the US and the state's unemployment rate - at 9.9% - remains above the national average of 8.5%.Florida accounts for almost a quarter of home foreclosures in the US and the state's unemployment rate - at 9.9% - remains above the national average of 8.5%.
Mr Romney hit back that his rival, too, had invested in mutual funds with the two lenders, which many Republicans blame for the housing crisis.Mr Romney hit back that his rival, too, had invested in mutual funds with the two lenders, which many Republicans blame for the housing crisis.
He said the former House speaker was a "spokesman'' for the federal lenders, a reference to a contract that one of Mr Gingrich's businesses had for consulting services. 'Petty politics'
He said the former House Speaker was a "spokesman'' for the federal lenders, a reference to a contract that one of Mr Gingrich's businesses had for consulting services.
Mr Santorum said the discussion was getting sidetracked with "petty personal politics".Mr Santorum said the discussion was getting sidetracked with "petty personal politics".
He called for the candidates to focus on more substantive issues, asking the moderator: "Can we set aside that Newt was a member of Congress... and that Mitt Romney is a wealthy guy?"He called for the candidates to focus on more substantive issues, asking the moderator: "Can we set aside that Newt was a member of Congress... and that Mitt Romney is a wealthy guy?"
Healthcare was another flashpoint in the debate, with Mr Santorum vigorously denouncing Mr Romney for his role in implementing "Romneycare", the healthcare policy rolled out in Massachusetts while he was governor.Healthcare was another flashpoint in the debate, with Mr Santorum vigorously denouncing Mr Romney for his role in implementing "Romneycare", the healthcare policy rolled out in Massachusetts while he was governor.
The programme was the model for the healthcare reforms - reviled by conservatives - which President Barack Obama signed in 2010.The programme was the model for the healthcare reforms - reviled by conservatives - which President Barack Obama signed in 2010.
The latest opinion polls show pack leaders Mr Romney and Mr Gingrich in a virtual tie, with a slight advantage to the former Massachusetts governor. The stakes are high: a win in Florida has the potential to propel one contender towards the eventual nomination.
The stakes are high: a win in Florida has the potential to catapult one contender towards the eventual nomination.
On the campaign trail earlier on Thursday the two leading candidates continued to attack each other.On the campaign trail earlier on Thursday the two leading candidates continued to attack each other.
Mr Romney, a wealthy businessman, has said his experience as the head of a private equity firm equips him to create jobs in the sluggish US economy. But many conservatives view him as too moderate and have misgivings about his Mormon faith.
He won a resounding victory in New Hampshire's primary, after a photo finish with Mr Santorum in Iowa's caucuses, the first nominating contest of the campaign.
Mr Romney he later looked vulnerable to a resurgent Mr Gingrich, who was buoyed by brash performances in live debates.
However, doubts over the thrice-married former House Speaker's personal life and and business dealings have also unsettled conservatives.