Republican candidates for the White House expressed strong support for the military mission in Iraq but raised concerns about the Bush administration's handling of the war during a subdued initial debate. The debate, held at Ronald Reagan's presidential library in California, did not feature many direct clashes but did reveal some disagreements among the 10 candidates on issues such as abortion. Most of the contenders for the 2008 election emphasized the importance of achieving victory in Iraq, contrasting with Democratic candidates who had advocated for a swift end to the conflict in their own debate. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a prominent supporter of the war and the president's plan to increase troop levels in Iraq, stressed the necessity of success in Iraq to prevent chaos, genocide, and potential threats to the United States. Rudolph Giuliani, the ex-mayor of New York and the top Republican candidate in national polls, emphasized the importance of not backing down against terrorism. However, other candidates expressed concerns about the Bush administration's handling of the war. McCain criticized the management of the war for the past four years, pointing out a lack of judgment in listening to civilian advisers over military generals. Former Arkansas Governor also highlighted the issue of not giving enough attention to the advice of the military leaders. Mike Huckabee participated in a debate in California during a difficult time for Republicans, following their loss of power in Congress. Polls indicate widespread dissatisfaction with President Bush, the Iraq war, and the Republican party as a whole, a year and a half before the 2008 presidential election. Candidates are facing a tough decision on whether to align themselves with Bush and his policies. Mitt Romney, despite low national poll numbers, emphasized the importance of focusing on bringing troops home from the war. Romney acknowledged the need to carefully navigate the issue of abortion rights within the Republican party, expressing concern about causing a situation that would necessitate a reversal of decisions. He addressed criticisms from conservatives regarding his and Giuliani's positions on gay rights and abortion, with Romney defending his change of stance on abortion as a genuine shift in opinion. Despite differing views, most candidates agreed on the need to repeal the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Giuliani also mentioned that he would be accepting of it, but believes that the issue of abortion should be decided by individual states. Virginia Gov James Gilmore expressed his support for abortion rights within the first eight to 12 weeks of pregnancy, despite having implemented restrictions on abortion during his time as governor. The debate, held at the Reagan library, prompted numerous praises for the former president and conservative figure, with candidates commending Reagan's leadership and conservative values. Former first lady Nancy Reagan and California Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger were in attendance at the front row during the debate. However, Reagan's presence did not sway many of the candidates to agree with her advocacy for federal funding for stem cell research. Other participants included 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.