Republican Rivals Debate Ahead Of New Hampshire Primary

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, last week.

The candidates competing for the Republican Party's nomination for U.S. president have held a debate ahead of the next vote in the contest.

The debate took place on January 7 in New Hampshire, which will hold its electoral primary on January 10.

The debate featured rival candidates launching verbal attacks on front-runner Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor.

Romney, who holds a large lead in New Hampshire, according to opinion polls, used his statements to focus on criticism of President Barack Obama, whom Romney hopes to challenge in the November election.

Romney narrowly won last week's Iowa caucuses, strengthening his campaign to secure the nomination.

compiled from agency reports