Republican Presidential candidates (l-r): Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul. Screenshot courtesy of CNN.

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It may have been smiles early on in the Sunshine State, but less than fifteen minutes into the Florida Republican Primary debate, the candidates sparred over such topics as illegal immigration, supporting democracy in Latin American countries, and reforming the private mortgage industry.

Hosted by CNN, the Florida Republican Party and the Hispanic Leadership Network at the University of North Florida, the two-hour debate between Texas Congressman Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania Rick Santorum underscored the tension between the candidates in the lead up to the vote on Tuesday.

Romney demonstrated a noticeable aggressiveness and went on the attack early against front-runner challenger Gingrich. Both Paul and Santorum, who have not committed as many resources to Florida, struggled to stay in the conversation.

A member of the audience asks the candidates a question about health care and unemployment. Screen shot courtesy CNN

In a state crippled by 9.9% unemployment — with some estimates of real unemployment at 18% — and a housing market the worst on record, the candidates tried to distinguish themselves as the candidate best able to defeat President Barack Obama and provide solutions to the nation’s economic problems.

“The freedom message and the Constitution is very appealing to people of all beliefs,” Congressman Paul said when asked by moderator Wolf Blitzer why he is the one person likely to beat Obama.

Romney outlined his business experience as the primary advantage he would have over the President in the general election.

“If you want to change Washington, then you’re going to have to bring someone in from the outside,” Romney said.

Living up to his “grandiose” characterization by other candidates, Gingrich pledged to run an American campaign with big ideas.

“I believe that what we need this fall is a big-choice election,” the former Speaker said.

For his part, Santorum continued to appeal to conservative laborers who traditionally vote Democratic.

“I want to win the industrial heartland,” Santorum stated. “Get those Reagan Democrats.”

Republican primary candidiates square off in Jacksonville, Florida

Although former President Ronald Reagan was only referenced a handful of times, the controversy in the last twenty-four hours of the news cycle focused on Gingrich’s claims to be the heir of the Reagan legacy.

The news aggregate website The Drudge Report had no less than 14 links to negative news stories about how Gingrich frequently criticized the Reagan legacy. In one article, a Reagan “insider” was quoted as saying Gingrich, as a Congressman during the Reagan Administration, “voted with the caucus, but his words should be remembered, for at the height of the bitter struggle with the Democratic leadership Gingrich chose to attack . . . Reagan.”

Published by the conservative National Review, the article was written by Elliot Abrams, a man who plea bargained to lesser charges of lying to Congress during the height of the Iran-Contra affair.

During tonight’s debate, Blitzer asked each candidate which of them could claim the Reagan mantel.

“I was just starting out,” Romney acknowledged. “I became more conservative as I was governor (of Massachusetts).”

“I am vastly closer to Reagan,” Gingrich remarked, while thanking the former president’s adopted son, Michael, for his endorsement. Gingrich also said Nancy Reagan, during his time as Speaker of the House in the 1990′s, said the conservative torch had been passed from Barry Goldwater to Ronald Reagan, and to Newt Gingrich and the Republicans in Congress.

Among the other topics covered and the candidate’s responses:

Illegal immigration: Santorum said, “We are a country of laws,” while Gingrich and Romney argued over campaign ads that alleged Gingrich referred to Spanish as the  “language of the ghetto.” Romney initially said he had no knowledge of the ad, and CNN later confirmed that the ad was put out by the Romney campaign, including the tag line, “I’m Mitt Romney and I approve this ad.”

Latin America: Paul said he supported free trade, and trade with Cuba, to which Santorum strongly disagreed.

Private mortgage industry: Paul opposed giving a line of credit to the Treasury. Gingrich and Romney continued a heated argument over Romney’s “blind trust’ investments in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and Gingrich’s work as a “consultant” for the government-backed entities. Santorum won a round of applause when he said the candidates needed to stop the petty personal politics, “You guys should leave that alone and focus on the issues!”

Transparency and taxes: Paul endorsed eliminating the 16th Amendment and stopping the transfer of wealth which has eliminated the middle class. His most notable quote of the night was, “Don’t run a welfare system and a warfare system.”

Health records: All the candidates agreed to release their health records, in response to a question by Blitzer about Paul’s age and ability to serve. Paul challenged any of the candidates to “a 25-mile bike ride,” and warned the moderator not to engage in “age discrimination.

Future of NASA and manned space flight: Santorum, while stating that America “is a frontier nation,” hesitated to endorse an ambitious space program given the country’s current fiscal crisis. Paul said, “I don’t think we should go to the moon. I think maybe we should send some politicians up there.” Gingrich, who earlier this week called for a manned moon colony, said, “I don’t want to be the country that says let the Chinese do it, what do I care?” Romney, borrowing a line from Donald Trump, said if he had a business executive come to him and propose a billion dollar program to man the moon, “I’d say you’re fired. We’ve got to say no to this kind of spending.”

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