Republican Presidential Candidates Debate in New Hampshire

Making News

Obama Visits Puerto Rico, in Pursuit of Votes in Florida ()

Barack Obama became the first President since John F. Kennedy to visit the Territory of Puerto Rico, where he took the opportunity to make points for his re-election campaign. Although people who live on the island are not allowed to vote in federal elections, those living on the mainland are. Frances Robles is a foreign correspondent for the Miami Herald, joining us from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Guests:

• Frances Robles: Miami Herald

Main Topic

A Debate in Name Only ()

When the GOP stages its first presidential primary next year in New Hampshire, the candidates will be running against each other. But in last night's debate at St. Anselm's College in New Hampshire, they made President Obama their only real target, and passed up opportunities to speak ill of fellow Republicans. What did they do to distinguish themselves? Did Tim Pawlenty challenge Mitt Romney's establishment front-runner status? Did Michele Bachmann make a difference? Did Newt Gingrich show he can still run, even without a campaign staff? We hear excerpts from the candidates and get some expert opinions.

Guests:

• Rich Galen: Mullings.com, @richgalen
• Gary Langer: ABC News, @LangerResearch
• Jay Newton-Small: Time magazine
• Mark Meckler: Tea Party Patriots
• Dante Scala: University of New Hampshire
• David Yepsen: Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, @DavidYepsen

Links:

• Galen on the CNN New Hampshire debate
• Langer on Obama, 2012 Republican presidential contenders
• Newton-Small on Bachmann's 'coming out party'
• Tea Party Patriots' Facebook poll on who won the NH debate
• Scala's 'Stormy Weather: The New Hampshire Primary and Presidential Politics'

Reporter's Notebook

UNESCO Urges NATO to Avoid Bombing Heritage Sites in Libya ()

Many antiquities left by ancient civilizations became collateral damage when the US invaded Iraq. Libya is a country with five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including well-preserved Greek and Roman ruins. Libyan rebels claim that Gadhafi is hiding rocket launchers at Leptis Magna, a Roman city founded by the Phoenicians in the 10th Century BC. Such sites are supposed to be protected by an international treaty on "Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict." But NATO's not saying whether it would bomb the site if rebel reports turn out to be true. For the last eight years, Brian Rose, Professor of Mediterranean Archeology at the University of Pennsylvania, has trained troops deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan in cultural heritage awareness.

Guests:

• Brian Rose: University of Pennsylvania