Front-runners get facetime at GOP debate in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. - The already crowded GOP presidential debate got slightly more crowded Thursday with the addition of former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson. Still, the most air time went to front runners, Rick Perry of Texas and former Massachusetts Governor, Mitt Romney.

As in previous debates, Perry was criticized from harshly for his immigration policies and disparaging comments about Social Security. Mitt Romney and Rick Perry were placed next to each other to showcase the testy exchanges that were sure to come. Perry and Romney pointedly accused each other of flip flopping on positions they had taken in books they had written and since changed.

The rest of the pack burnished their conservative credentials by promising to abolish various government programs.

Pizza CEO Herman Cain promised to shutter the Environmental Protection Agency. Rick Santorum advocated legislation to outlaw public sector unions.

Michelle Bachman pledged to wrest education away from the Federal Government altogether.  "I'd go over to the Department of Education and turn out the lights, lock the door and send all the money back to the states."

With Google co-sponsoring the debate with FOX Newschannel, several questions came from average citizens through video clips. The debate was part of a three-day "Presidency 5" conference in Orlando that will culminate Saturday with a straw poll to be decided by some 5,000 Republican delegates from around the state.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam believes it's time for the field of debating candidates to be reduced so as to give viable candidates more time to express their views. But Putnam believes it's telling that two of the last three Republican presidential debates have been in Florida.

"It puts the attention where it belongs -- in as big diverse state like ours. As goes Florida, so goes the country.