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LAS VEGAS — The Romney-Perry fireworks stole the show at the Republican presidential debate Tuesday night in Las Vegas.
The seven participating candidates faced each other on a host of topics, but Mitt Romney and Rick Perry clashed head-on, on just about all of them.
Mitt, you lose all of my standing from my perspective because you hired illegals in your home and you knew for about a year.
–Gov. Rick Perry
First, Perry accused Romney of employing illegal immigrants.
"Mitt, you lose all of my standing from my perspective because you hired illegals in your home and you knew for about a year, and the idea that you stand here before us and talk about that you're ‘strong on immigration' is on its face the height of hypocrisy," Perry said.
Romney denied the charge, saying he had hired a company to mow his lawn and did not know that it had an illegal immigrant on its payroll.
The two men talked over one another, and at one point, Romney placed his hand on Perry's shoulder.
You have a problem with allowing someone to finish speaking, and I suggest that if you want to become president of the United States, you've got to let both people speak.
–Mitt Romney
"It's been a tough couple of debates for Rick. And I understand that so you're going to get testy," he said. As Perry continued to speak, Romney stopped him: "You have a problem with allowing someone to finish speaking, and I suggest that if you want to become president of the United States, you've got to let both people speak," he said.
Romney's LDS faith also came up, and Perry said he disagreed with a pastor and political supporter who described the religion as a cult. "I can't apologize any more than that," the Texan said.
"That's fine," responded Romney.
Of course, Utah's other favorite son, former Gov. Jon Huntsman, skipped this debate, saying he was boycotting the Nevada caucuses in a dispute over the primary and caucus calendar. He is campaigning exclusively in New Hampshire in hopes of a victory that can move him into the thick of the race.
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Written by Richard Piatt and AP writer Kasie Hunt
