Ex-actor makes debut in Republican debate

Former actor Fred Thompson made his debating debut Tuesday as Republican candidates for the 2008 U.S. presidential nomination squared off over the economy.

All nine candidatesgathered for thetelevised debate, which was held inDearborn, Mich. the nation's manufacturing heartland.

Thompson, an ex-Tennessee senator better known for starring in the popular television series Law & Order, joined the race for the nomination in early September, several months after his rivals. Thiswas his first debate.

He fielded the first question of the night:Whether America is headed toward a recession?

"We're enjoying low inflation. We're enjoying low unemployment. The stock market seems to be doing pretty well. I see no reason to believe we are headed for an economic downturn," said Thompson.

TheCBC's Washington correspondent, Henry Champ,said that throughout the two-hour debate, Thompson appeared hesitant andfrequently looked down at his notes."That's a no-no in this business because you are expected to be able to deliver on your feet," Champ said.

Tax cuts dominate debate

Rudy Giuliani, ex-mayor of New York, and Mitt Romney,former Massachusetts governor, dominated the debate at times.

The two, considered nomination front-runners, clashed over tax and spending cuts.

"I cut taxes 23 times. I believe in tax cuts," said Giuliani, who said he brought New York'staxes down by17 per cent.

Romney said they were in agreement about tax cuts, then criticized Giuliani for having filed a court challenge to a law that gave Bill Clinton, the presidentfrom 1993 to 2001, the right to veto spending items line by line.

"I'm in favour of the line item veto," he said, adding he exercised it 844 times while governor of Massachusetts.

Romney also said that while mayor, Giuliani "fought to keep the commuter tax, which is a very substantial tax on consumers coming into New York."

All of the nine candidates sought to stress their conservative economic credentials throughout the two-hour debate.

There are about three months left until primary season, when parties pick their candidates to run for president.

The next presidential electionis scheduled for Nov. 4, 2008. IncumbentGeorge W. Bush can not run again because the U.S. Constitution limits presidents to serve only two terms in office.