The GOP presidential candidates faced off last night before an audience of 1,000 Tea Party activists in Tampa, Florida. Gov. Rick Perry, who has surged to the front of the race since entering last month, faced heavy scrutiny from his seven challengers over his record as governor of Texas, including a state order to vaccinate girls against HPV and college tuition for the children of illegal immigrants. Mitt Romney, the other front runner, criticized Perry over his past assertion that Social Security is a “Ponzi scheme.” For highlights and analysis, Kate Zernicke, national correspondent for The New York Times and author of “Boiling Mad: Inside Tea Party America,” and Doug Guetzloe, radio talk show host and co-founder of the Florida Tea Party, join the program.
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