Live Thread: South Carolina GOP Presidential Debate on CNN 8 P.M. EST

Thursday, January 19, 2011 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

And then there were three and a half minds left campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination: Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.

Link to CNN livestream page.

Hosted by CNN's John King at the North Charleston Coliseum.

[af_vet_rr]

Did Santorum just say his 7 year old father came here with his grandfather???? His dad was not a NBC?

Obituary for Santorum's dad

Aldo Santorum called the GI Bill the greatest gift he received. He gave back by building a career and family around veterans hospitals.

"We always lived on the campus of the veterans hospitals. It was called the domiciliary," said his son, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Penn Hills. "I always joked that I spent my childhood living in public housing."

Aldo Santorum of Crescent Beach, Fla., a clinical psychologist for the VA, died Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, in the home where he and his wife, Catherine Dughi, lived the past 20 years. He was 88.

Mr. Santorum was born in the Trento province of Italy to Maria and Pietro Santorum. Aldo, his mother, older brother Bruno and younger sister Carla moved to the Johnstown area when he was 7 to join his father, who came to the United States five years earlier.

[Danae]

Heh heh.

[moehoward]

Newt slams Mitt, then let’s Rick finish off the scraps.

[milagro]

Sanotrum is taking Romeny out—perhaps his most significant contribution so far!

[AFPhys]

Santorum just held many of his voters with the abortion battle comments.

[Pravious]

Man... Santorum’s making me feel he’s attacking ROMNEY unfairly. What a pr*ck he’s being tonight.

[cynwoody]

Did Santorum just say his 7 year old father came here with his grandfather???? His dad was not a NBC?

His father, Aldo Santorum, came over from Italy at the age of seven. Of course, Ricky was born in Virginia, so he is automatically natural born. Not that it matters, however, because he's not going to be the nominee.

[Kenny]

They need to listen to Carville;

IT’S THE ECONOMY STUPID!

[kristinn]

Romney’s ship just sailed on abortion. He admitted that he didn’t care about the abortion stances of judges his appointed.

Yep, while at the same time he blamed a judge for mandating abortion in Romneycare.

[FreeReign]

I thought he looked pretty ballsy, stepping out of the little box they have for him up there with Spoiler on it, and like a real candidate. My fellow Freepers aren’t taking well to it though. Romney’s been on the ropes a lot tonight.

What I don't take well is Santorum criticizing Newt about health insurance mandates, when Santorum himself was for health insurance mandates.

Santorum Supported Individual Health Insurance Mandate In 1994 Republican Primary

[Shortstop7]

You are right...Newt was wise to stand down on this one.

I can’t figure out why Santorum is so bitterly angry tonight. Must have ticked him off right off the bat when Newt got the standing O’s.

[Reagan69]

I just want to slap Santorum. What a panty-waist.

[tioga]

I like Rick, too. He should have learned not to get desperate and whine about the others when Michelle blew it doing that. Sad.

[Clyde5445]

Welcome!!!!!!

[gswilder]

Sorry, candidates aren’t going to say in public they are going to nominate pro life or pro abortion judges. I believe Mitt will be pro life.

What is Santorum doing tonite? I think he is done. Doesn’t have his facts right. Getting eaten alive by Newt and Mitt.

[gop4lyf]

Sure fire way to cure illegal immigration. Anyone trying to wire money to another country MUST provide 2 forms of ID, one being a valid social security card. If no ID is provided, there should be a 99% surcharge.

[BuckyKat]

I’d vote for Santorum over Obama, but I’d even vote for Ron Paul over Obama. Santorum’s problem is he has no sense of humor, zilch, nada. He takes himself far too seriously and, sorry, but sweater vests just don’t cut it.

[Reagan69]

I just want to slap Santorum. What a panty-waist.

[Hoodat]

Why all the Santorum hate?

The Noot-bots are getting desperate.

[onyx]

He lied. His conversion is a fraud, too. Political expedience.