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Republicans pull punches in Florida debate

BY REID J. EPSTEIN | reid.epstein@newsday.com

10:44 PM EST, January 24, 2008

Republican presidential hopefuls, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, left, Arizona Senator John McCain center, and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, stand on stage prior to the start of the televised Republican Candidates debate. (Getty Images / January 24, 2008)

In the crucial last debate before next week's must-win Florida primary, Rudy Giuliani failed to break away from the pack as the GOP presidential contenders discussed the economy Thursday night and attacked Hillary Rodham Clinton more than each other.

Trailing in polls in a state where he once led, Giuliani found himself being treated with kid gloves instead of facing attacks as he once did as a front-runner. As the 90-minute debate closed, John McCain even delivered a eulogy-like testimonial to the former mayor.

Giuliani took notice of his gentle treatment. When asked about his positive ratings dropping by half, Giuliani noted that rival Mitt Romney had asked him a "nice question" during the debate about trade with China.

"We have lulled them all into a very false sense of security now," he said, adding his campaign would have "the same fate as the New York Giants," which came from behind to go to the Super Bowl.

Hours before the debate, Giuliani dismissed the polls and called the race "wide open." He said, "I'm going to continue my campaign . . . I have no reason not to anticipate winning."

Romney turned in the best performance, though McCain held his own in the debate, sponsored by the nonprofit group Leadership Florida and broadcast nationally on MSNBC.

It was the Clintons who bore the brunt of attacks.

Asked about Iraq and national security, McCain defended his staunch support of the surge and accused Hillary Clinton of "waving a white flag." And Romney ridiculed her as "Gen. Clinton."

Asked about running against the Hillary and Bill Clinton team, Romney raised eyebrows with his response: "The idea of Bill Clinton back in the White House with nothing to do; I just can't imagine that."

Most of the questions focused on the economy.

Asked about President George W. Bush's economic stimulus package, Romney, McCain and Giuliani all seemed in step in, approving it but saying it didn't go far enough.

It was Mike Huckabee who set himself apart, accusing his rivals of failing to see that trouble lay ahead just months ago when they all were in Michigan for a conference.

"Every one of us were asked, 'How's the economy doing?' Every one of my colleagues said, 'It's doing great,'" Huckabee said. "When they came to me, I know people acted like I was the only guy at the UN without a headset that night. ... I was the only guy on that stage who said, 'It may be doing great if you're at the top.'"

Giuliani, who needed to distinguish himself, sought to do it with his support for a national catastrophic fund to back up home insurance during disasters like hurricanes, a measure popular here.

When it was Giuliani's turn to ask a question, he told Romney his position was unclear. "Senator McCain has said that he does not support a national catastrophic fund as a backstop. I do," he said, for the first time engaging his rivals directly. While Romney waited for the question, McCain interjected, "Who's answering this question?" Then both Romney and McCain clarified their positions.

In one of the more intense moments for Giuliani, which he fielded deftly, moderator Brian Williams cited a New York Times editorial endorsing McCain and blasting the former mayor as a "narrow, obsessively secretive, vindictive man."

After joking that he earned the Times' wrath because he never followed its guidance as mayor, he spoke of the "serious philosophical difference" between himself and the paper.

"I changed quality of life," he said. " I took on homelessness. I did all the things that they thought make you mean, and I believe show true compassion and true love for people."

But in an unusual moment, McCain heaped praise on Giuliani. "I happen to know Rudy Giuliani," McCain said as the debate came to a close. "I happen to know he's an American hero. And I happen to have gone to New York City after 9/11. And I'm proud of the way he led this country and united it following 9/11."