The Republican presidential candidates duked it out in South Carolina Tuesday night in their second debate. Some of those behind in the polls jabbed at the front-runners. Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo said he thinks John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani are soft on immigration. And he said his rivals have undergone conversions on such issues as abortion hoping to win votes.Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore described some of his opponents as "very liberal in characterizing themselves as conservatives, particularly on the issues of abortion and taxes and health care." He singled out Giuliani for supporting abortion rights and pointed out that Mike Huckabee raised taxes as Arkansas governor. Huckabee responded by saying he cut taxes repeatedly as governor, blaming the tax hike on a court order.
The Republicans also used a little time to target Democrats. Huckabee, for instance, had got in a double dig, saying the Democratic Congress has spent money "like John Edwards at a beauty shop."
Congressman Ron Paul suggested the U.S. bore some responsibility for 9-11. Senator Sam Brownback said Democrats and Republicans must pull together for an Iraq war victory.