Republican hopefuls spar over who's the real conservative

ORLANDO -- Republican presidential candidates seeking support in the pivotal state of Florida tried Sunday to answer one of their party's most basic questions: Who is the most conservative?

Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee stressed their executive experience, while John McCain and Fred Thompson focused on curbing federal spending — and most took shots at the presumed Democratic frontrunner.

"We're not going to keep Hillary Clinton out of the White House by acting like Hillary Clinton," Romney said during the debate at a golf resort near Disney World.

Eight GOP candidates showed up at the event sponsored by Fox News. It capped a weekend meeting of the Republican Party of Florida designed to promote the Jan. 29 primary, which is timed so that the state could have an impact on deciding the party's standard bearer.

Florida Republicans are seeking "a nominee who represents the Reagan conservatism that focuses on freedom, security, opportunity and values," said U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, R-Fla., a Thompson supporter. "They also want a candidate who can win both the primary and the general election."

In the days leading up to the debate, Giuliani stressed lower crime and tax rates during his tenure as mayor of New York City. Giuliani, who is leading national and Florida polls, has also touted his credentials leading New York after the 9/11 attacks and has played down his support of abortion rights.

"You will never see me standing here telling you what I want you to hear," Giuliani told a weekend rally of Florida Republicans. "I will be honest with you."

Romney has also touted tax cuts he made while Massachusetts governor. He has also emphasized his recent opposition to abortion rights, an issue that helped him narrowly win a straw poll at a weekend meeting of religious conservatives in Washington.

"I think there's a view on the part of some that to win the White House, we've got to turn left and act more like the Democrats," Romney said on CBS' Face The Nation. "I think that's exactly wrong."