In the first debate to feature all ten Democratic presidential candidates, the contenders strongly criticized President Bush — and each other — about economic policies.

The most heated moment of the evening came when Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Miss., attacked former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean for having criticized Medicare in the past, and said Dean agreed with a Newt Gingrich plan, which was a $270 billion cut in the program.

“That is flat-out false and I’m ashamed you would compare me with Newt Gingrich,” Dean said. “Nobody up here deserves to be compared to Newt Gingrich.

“We need to remember that the enemy here is George Bush, not each other,” he added.

The economically-focused debate was broadcast Thursday from Pace University in New York City. The debate, located a few blocks away from the New York Stock Exchange, featured each of the ten candidates attempting to distinguish themselves in issues of tax cuts, foreign policy, trade, health care and Social Security.

The ten candidates were united in repealing Bush’s tax cut for the rich.

“This president has lost more jobs in the last two years than the last 11 presidents combined,” said Gephardt, who claimed some of the credit of the mid-1990s economic surplus several times throughout the evening.

They were polarized, however, on if the middle class should keep their cut. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., strongly opposed repealing the middle class tax cut.

“Thirty-two million Americans get $1,000 from this tax cut. We don’t need to fix the deficit on the backs of the middle class,” he said.

Dean, who along with Gephardt supported an across-the-board repeal on the entire Bush tax cut, defended his viewpoint.

“Although my viewpoint on this issue isn’t popular, I believe we need to tax all people to support my health care plan,” he said.

The candidates took different sides in regards to foreign trade. They all agreed trade was the key to reversing the “Bush deficit,” but each candidate supported globalization in varying degrees.

Twelve ISU students watched the presidential candidates debate in room 1227 of the Communications Building.

Michel Waller, graduate student in anthropology , felt the lesser-known candidates made the strongest impression at the debate.

“Kerry, Gephardt and Dean are basically the same person. But candidates on the fringe, such as Kucinich and [Former Ambassador Carol] Moseley Braun had a strong showing,” he said.

Josh Reicks, president of the ISU College Republicans and the lone Republican student in attendance, said Kerry was the only candidate who would be a formidable contender against Bush in the upcoming election.

“Dean wouldn’t stand a chance because he’s a liberal’s liberal and they never win presidential elections,” he said.

“However, Kerry is particularly strong in political and foreign policy experience, which is what Bush also prides himself on,” he said.