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Early Edition

Election 2000: In Final Debate Before New Hampshire Primary, Republican Candidates Engage in 90-Minute Slug-Fest

Aired January 27, 2000 - 7:09 a.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Voters are soaking up a night of finger- pointing and posturing by all seven candidates in last night's debate, the last debate before the primary election here. So was there a clear winner? a loser? Voters are going to decide pretty soon.

The five Republicans faced off first, and that's where our coverage begins, from the ever-contentious abortion issue, to how to handle China, to moshing and the morality of it, the candidates argued and they disagreed.

CNN's Charles Zewe has highlights of the 90-minute verbal slug- fest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHARLES ZEWE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Republican contest put John McCain under the spotlight. Leading in most polls here, the Arizona senator fought off claims by his opponents that he was not a true conservative. It began with former U.N. official Alan Keyes who opposes all abortions. He attacked McCain for saying earlier in the day it would be a family decision if his teenage daughter were contemplating an abortion.

ALAN KEYES (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you're daughter came to you and said she was contemplating killing her grandmother for the inheritance, you wouldn't say let's have a family conference.

ZEWE: McCain fought back, alluding to his time as a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've seen enough killing in my life. I know how precious human life is, and I don't need a lecture from you.

ZEWE: Things were particularly testy between McCain and GOP front-runner George W. Bush, Bush likening McCain's tax plans to those of Vice President Gore's, and asking why McCain opposes his education reforms.

GOV. GEORGE W. BUSH (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There are two people who have openly criticized this plan, you and the vice president.

MCCAIN: If you're saying that I'm like Al Gore, then you're spinning like Bill Clinton, OK?

ZEWE: McCain stressed that his key issues, campaign finance reform and using the projected budget surplus to protect Social Security, were the essence of true conservatism. Perhaps the strangest moment in the debate came when conservative activist Gary Bauer criticized Keyes as being undignified for falling into a mosh pit at a campaign rally in Iowa, while music from an anti- establishment rock band blared.

GARY BAUER (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's the kind of music that the killers at Columbine High School were immersed in.

KEYES: Do you know why I did that, because I think that exemplifies the kind of trust in people that is the heart and soul of the Keyes campaign.

ZEWE: Dignity, Keyes said, doesn't come from a mosh pit, it comes from what you do as a result of the convictions of your heart.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZEWE: Last night, it all seemed to be about attacking John McCain and what he said on the campaign trail. In fact, Steve Forbes complained that he, Keyes, and Gary Bauer didn't get equal time last night. Forbes said he was treated like a potted plant.

Charles Zewe, CNN live, Manchester, New Hampshire.

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