Republican presidential candidates expressed strong support for the military mission in Iraq but raised concerns about the Bush administration's handling of the war during a subdued first debate. Held at the Ronald Reagan presidential library in California, the debate did not have many direct clashes among the 10 candidates but did reveal some differing views on social issues such as abortion. The majority of the 2008 candidates emphasized the importance of achieving victory in Iraq, contrasting with the Democratic candidates who recently called for a swift end to the war. Arizona Senator John McCain, a prominent supporter of the war and advocate for increasing troop levels, warned of chaos and genocide if the US were to withdraw from Iraq. Rudolph Giuliani, the ex-mayor of New York and the top Republican candidate in nationwide polls, stated that it is crucial to never back down in response to terrorism. However, other candidates have questioned the Bush administration's handling of the war. McCain criticized the management of the war over the past four years, attributing errors in judgment to a lack of input from military experts. Former Arkansas Governor also expressed concerns about reliance on civilian advisors rather than military leaders. The debate in California took place during a difficult time for Republicans, as they were still reeling from losing power in Congress in the previous November's elections. Public dissatisfaction with President Bush, the Iraq war, and Republicans in general was high, 18 months before the 2008 presidential election. This forced candidates to carefully consider whether to align themselves with Bush and his policies. Mitt Romney, a top-tier candidate despite low national poll numbers, emphasized the importance of prioritizing bringing troops home over public opinion on the war. Romney acknowledged the importance of not abruptly bringing certain issues to light in a way that could necessitate revisiting them. Conservatives have expressed dissatisfaction with the Republican presidential candidates, particularly Giuliani for his support of gay rights and abortion rights, and Romney for his evolving views on these issues. Romney defended his change in stance on abortion rights as a sincere shift in opinion, stating, "I changed my mind." The majority of the candidates expressed their support for overturning 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 on abortion during his time as governor. The debate at the Reagan library prompted candidates to praise Reagan's leadership and conservative values. Nancy Reagan and California Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger observed the debate from the front row, but not all candidates agreed with her stance on federal funding for stem cell research. Other individuals who took part in the event included Senator Sam Brownback from Kansas, Representatives Tom Tancredo from Colorado, Ron Paul from Texas, and Duncan Hunter from California, as well as former Governor Tommy Thompson from Wisconsin.