CONCORD, N.H. — The pressure was on Sunday morning as the six Republican presidential candidates took to the stage for the last time before Tuesday’s primary in New Hampshire.
The candidates argued about business and foreign policy and agreed about the threat of re-electing President Barack Obama during NBC’s “Meet the Press” debate Sunday morning.
In Concord, N.H., on a street with small coffee shops and boutiques, voters came out in full force in support of their favorite Republican candidates. They lined up on Main Street outside the Capitol Center for the Arts, where the debate was held
Newspapers and broadcast news stations have chronicled the candidates’ campaign paths throughout New Hampshire. With so many small-town campaign stops and back-to-back debates this weekend, there was a clear tension among the candidates to get their final messages out before polls open Tuesday.
Candidates ganged up on Mitt Romney, hoping to topple him from his lead.
A recent poll shows that Romney’s sizeable lead could be slipping slightly in the state, according to McClatchy news reports.
The Suffolk University/7News tracking poll showed the former Massachusetts governor with the support of 35 percent of likely voters, Ron Paul with 20 percent, Jon Huntsman with 11 percent, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 9 percent, former Sen. Rick Santorum with 8 percent and Gov. Rick Perry of Texas with 1 percent. Fifteen percent were undecided, according to McClatchy news reports.
Candidates answered questions ranging from gay rights and working with Democrats to job creation, federal spending and the New Hampshire motto, “Live free or die.”
While no candidate was the clear favorite among audience members, the audience agreed about at least one thing — the importance of loyalty to the state and country.
Huntsman was met with resounding applause when he rebuffed Romney for criticizing his position as ambassador to China in Obama’s administration.
