During a calm first debate at the California presidential library of Ronald Reagan, US Republican White House contenders expressed strong backing for the military mission in Iraq while expressing concerns about the Bush administration's handling of the war. The debate did not have many direct confrontations but did highlight some differences among the 10 candidates on social issues like abortion. Despite this, most of the 2008 candidates emphasized the importance of achieving victory in Iraq, in contrast to the Democratic candidates who recently advocated for a quick end to the war. Arizona Sen John McCain, a strong supporter of the war and President George W. Bush's plan to increase troop levels in Iraq, stated that withdrawing from Iraq would result in chaos, genocide, and potential threats to national security. Rudolph Giuliani, the ex-mayor of New York and the top contender among Republicans in national polls, emphasized the importance of not backing down in the fight against terrorism. However, some candidates expressed concerns about the Bush administration's handling of the war. McCain criticized the management of the war, stating it was poorly handled for four years. Former Arkansas Governor also commented on the issue, pointing out that a significant error in judgment was made by relying too heavily on advice from civilian officials rather than military leaders. Mike Huckabee participated in a debate in California during a difficult time for Republicans, as they had recently lost power in Congress. Polls showed widespread dissatisfaction with President Bush, the Iraq war, and the Republican party as a whole, creating a challenging environment for candidates preparing for the 2008 presidential election. Former Massachusetts Gov Mitt Romney emphasized the importance of focusing on bringing troops home from Iraq, despite his lower standing in national polls. Romney acknowledged the importance of not abruptly bringing certain issues to the forefront, as it could potentially lead to having to revisit them later on. Many conservatives have expressed dissatisfaction with the Republican candidates, specifically Giuliani for his views on gay and abortion rights, and Romney for his changing stance on these issues. Romney defended his shift on abortion rights by stating it was a genuine change of opinion. The majority of candidates stated they backed the repeal of the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion. Giuliani expressed his acceptance of abortion but believed it should be a state issue. Virginia Gov James Gilmore supported abortion rights in the early stages of pregnancy, but had implemented restrictions during his time as governor. The debate at the Reagan library prompted candidates to honor Reagan and his conservative values. Nancy Reagan and Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger observed from the front row, but not all candidates agreed with her stance on federal funding for stem cell research. Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, Representatives Tom Tancredo of Colorado, Ron Paul of Texas, and Duncan Hunter of California, as well as former Governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, were also in attendance.