Republican Presidential Candidates on Debate

LOS ANGELES — Former Vice President Dick Cheney isn’t picking sides in the battle for the 2012 Republican Presidential nomination, but in a remarkably candid interview with ABC News in Los Angeles, he had blunt words about the current field of GOP candidates.

Cheney accused Rick Perry of using “over-the-top” rhetoric, chided Michele Bachmann for overpromising on the campaign trail and said that Jon Huntsman’s views on Afghanistan hew too closely to President Obama’s.

The comments came in far-ranging interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl where Cheney discussed, at length, his health problems, criticism of his book and reflected on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

But on the politics of today, Cheney said it was “inappropriate” for Perry to say that he would treat Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke “pretty ugly down in Texas.”

“I disagree with him,” Cheney said. “Obviously he’s just getting started on the campaign. I’m not sure if he were to get elected he’d want to use that kind of language on the Fed Chairman.”


As the President gets ready to roll out his jobs-creation plan, one theme is likely to dominate tonight's GOP debate.

“What voters care about right now the most is jobs, the economy, and how are you going to grow both of them,” says Jennifer Horn, founder of the conservative group We the People.

But the issue could be eclipsed by the newest star on campaign trail.

“Tonight is the coming out party for Rick Perry from Texas,” says political analyst Scott Spradling.

Dean Spiliotes of NHpoliticalcapital.com agrees, “Actually seeing him in action, particularly against Mitt Romney, in the debate I think will be something people will be very interested in.”

Horn believes, “he has the most to gain and the most to lose at the same time.”

His debut was tentative due to the wildfires in his home state but Perry's since arrived in California. The Texas governor, now considered the republican front runner, is not known as a strong debater, “but,” Spradling points out, “we've seen from the trail so far that Perry has a strong style about him and he's not afraid to throw some punches. So I think we'll see a few fireworks tonight.”

The forum is also critical for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who'd held a solid lead until Perry entered the race, and for Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, “whose fortunes have been declining ever since Perry got in,” says Spiliotes. “She's going to be trying to get back into the race.”

Tensions have been building between the candidates off-stage. One time Utah Governor Jon Huntsman has been hammering away at Romney, while Perry and fellow Texan, Congressman Ron Paul, have been sparring with each other.

Tonight's debate takes place at the Reagan National Library. The late president was famous for promoting civility and party unity but when it comes to this race, Horn says, “We’ve certainly reached the point where they have to start drawing distinctions between themselves and their opponents.”