In debate, GOP contenders back tax, spending cuts

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP) — Republican presidential rivals backed a blend of tax and spending cuts Thursday night to head off an election-year recession they generally agreed is not inevitable.

“We should reduce taxes on middle-income Americans immediately,” former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said in a debate in the run-up to presidential primaries in Michigan and South Carolina.

“The first thing is not to raise taxes,” said former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. “Cut the marginal tax rate, if anything, and eventually go to a fair tax,” he added, referring to his plan for a national sales tax to replace the income tax.

Arizona Sen. John McCain stressed spending cuts to get the budget deficit under control, although he also said it was important not to let Bush administration-era tax cuts expire. He pledged to “wield the veto pen” and block all pork barrel spending bills that Congress sends him.

Though the debate was held in South Carolina, the Michigan primary will be held first, a contest in which Romney, Huckabee and McCain are the principal antagonists. It’s unlikely all of them can survive a defeat there. South Carolina’s primary is scheduled for Jan. 19.

Thompson underscored the urgency of a strong South Carolina showing when he launched an attack on Huckabee.

“This is a battle for the heart and soul of the Republican Party and its future. On the one hand you have the Reagan Revolution ... on the other hand you have the direction that Governor Huckabee would take us ... liberal economic policies, liberal foreign policies,” he said.

Huckabee seemed unruffled. “The Air Force has a saying that if you’re not catching flak you’re not over the target. I’m catching the flak. I must be over the target,” he said.