Republicans clash at presidential debate

The race to be the Republican candidate for US president has turned ugly with two front-runners trading blows before a crucial vote tomorrow.

Michele Bachmann, favourite of the Right-wing Tea Party faction, clashed repeatedly with Tim Pawlenty in a debate between Republican hopefuls in Iowa last night.

Both are seeking to secure conservative support for the straw poll in Iowa, which could make or break their campaign. Ms Bachmann, who leads polls in the state, attacked Mr Pawlenty's record as governor of Minnesota, saying his policies on healthcare and the environment "sound a lot more like Barack Obama if you ask me". Mr Pawlenty savaged his rival's record in Congress and claimed she had "a record of mis-stating and making false statements".

The clashes so dominated the debate that one of the other six candidates, Rick Santorum, was at one point reduced to interrupting and begging the moderator to ask him a question.

Texas Governor Rick Perry announced before the debate that he would stand. Richard Land, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention called him "charismatic" but questioned if "the country is ready for somebody who sounds like George Bush on steroids."