Bachmann, meanwhile, sought to root herself in the working class, describing her upbringing by a single mother. “We’re still coupon clippers today,” she said. “We still go to consignment stores today. We get what that feels like. And I think it’s important for the next president of the United States to be in touch with what real people are suffering today, and I have.”
Bachmann also tried to cast Romney and Gingrich as similar in the inconsistency of their conservatism. “If you want a difference, Michele Bachmann is the proven conservative, it’s not Newt-Romney,” she said. “You’ve got to have our nominee as someone who has a stark, distinct difference with President Obama, who can go toe-to-toe.”
On another issue, the candidates divided sharply over whether Congress should extend the payroll tax cut for workers, which expires at the end of the year. Obama has been pushing Republicans in Congress to approve the extension to prevent middle-class Americans from having their taxes raised.
Romney, Gingrich and Paul said they supported it but managed to take swipes at Obama’s stewardship of the economy in their answers. Bachmann, Perry and Santorum said they opposed the extension.
“I’m completely different from Barack Obama on this issue,” Bachmann said. “We have candidates on this stage who are standing with Barack Obama on this issue.”
Romney and Gingrich reprised an earlier clash over immigration and what to do with about 11 million people who are in the country illegally. Gingrich said he favored making it possible for those who have been here for 25 years or more and have deep roots in their communities to become permanent residents, though not citizens. Romney said he thought that would create incentives for a new wave of illegal immigration.
The debate, the 12th this year among the Republican candidates, was the first since businessman Herman Cain suspended his campaign, and came at a time of dramatic change in the race. The debate was sponsored by ABC News, the Des Moines Register, Yahoo News and the Iowa Republican Party. ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and Diane Sawyer served as moderators.
Gingrich was on the spot heading into the debate, having zoomed into the lead in the polls. A recent round of polls, including one by The Washington Post and ABC News, showed Gingrich with a double-digit lead over Romney and Paul, who were tied for second. But he is behind Romney and Paul in building an organization to turn out his supporters on caucus night.
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