Gingrich, Huntsman Hold Debate

Transcript

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:

One last note from the campaign trail. Two of Mitt Romney's opponents engaged today in a long conversation, a so-called Lincoln-Douglas styled debate at St. Anselm College in New Hampshire.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman discussed in a gentlemanly manner topics of foreign policy and national security. And Gingrich began with a short critique.

I believe that one of the great weaknesses of the campaign up to now, the debates up to now, has been the absence of a serious discussion about the nature of the world, the nature of the world market, the nature of those challenges we face and the nature of America's role in that world.

After 45 minutes of serious discussion on those matters, both candidates made jokes about the length of the debate. Here's Jon Huntsman.

JON HUNTSMAN REPUBLICAN, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I can see my daughter nodding off over there, which means it's already gone on too long anyway.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

BLOCK: Huntsman added: She's also my senior foreign policy advisor. Gingrich chimed in: In her defense, she was nodding off while I spoke. And then the debaters continued onto other national security topics in a forum they were clearly enjoying. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.