Republicans To Debate Tonight In Boca Raton

Posted Jan 24, 2008 by Laura Fiorilli

Updated Jan 24, 2008 at 05:09 PM

Students helped set up for Thursday’s Republican debate at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. They took their seats on the debate stage Thursday, helping crews set lighting for the debate that will air on MSNBC and NBC affiliates.

The candidates will be trying to resonate in the country’s fourth largest state, where registered voters will hold their presidential preference primary Tuesday.

The most recent Mason-Dixon poll shows Arizona Sen. John McCain with 26 percent of the vote, slightly behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at 30 percent. Romney’s stronghold in the state is the Tampa Bay area, according to the poll. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani trails McCain by 8 percentage points, with 18 percent of the vote. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee is at 13 percent.

According to the poll, the economy, terrorism and immigration rank as the most important issues to registered Republicans in Florida. The candidates will be working hard to connect with voters on those issues tonight.