LAS VEGAS: A confident Mitt Romney criticized his Republican rivals and fended off attacks on immigration and healthcare at a debate that could help reinstall him as the party’s presidential front-runner.
Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, overshadowed businessman Herman Cain and Texas Governor Rick Perry, his two main challengers for the nomination to take on President Barack Obama in 2012.
Seeking to convince skeptical conservatives to get behind him, Romney fought off attacks from Perry, who brought up an old charge that he hired illegal immigrants to cut his lawn.
After a testy exchange, Romney hit back.
Polls show Romney has the best chance of any Republican of defeating Obama, whose approval ratings have dropped as he struggles to revive the economy and cut the unemployment rate from 9 per cent.
But pizza magnate Cain has headed recent polls of Republicans, many of whom think Romney is not conservative enough to deserve the nomination.
Romney, a far more confident and polished debater than in his 2008 presidential run, put Perry on the defensive over an evangelical pastor with ties to the Texas governor who criticized Mormonism.
Perry replied that he did not agree with what the preacher had said. (UNI)