The six Republican presidential candidates shared the spotlight Monday night for the second debate in less than a week.

Texas Gov. George W. Bush, talk show host Alan Keyes, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, publisher Steve Forbes and conservative commentator Gary Bauer took their places on the stage at the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix, Ariz., Monday.

Although the debate was held on Sen. John McCain’s home turf, he appeared via satellite because of prior campaign commitments in New Hampshire.

Polls done after last Thursday’s GOP debate, held in New Hampshire, show McCain and Bush in a statistical tie. Newsweek reported that Bush had 38 percent of the support, and McCain had 33 percent.

The Boston Herald reported that 34 percent of people sided with Bush while 33 percent chose McCain.

Vice Chairman of the Iowa State College Republicans Charles Johnson said the outcome of any debate this political season will depend on how many viewers tune in.

“If a lot of people watch them, and if someone does really well, it can change the tide for that person,” said Johnson, sophomore in political science. “If no one watches, it won’t have any effect.”

Garrett Toay, president of Students for George W. Bush, said debates are a great opportunity to hear where each candidate stands on a variety of issues.

“It’s kind of like a job interview,” said Toay, senior in agricultural business. “It gives you a chance to see how candidates react to pressure and how quick thinking they are.”

Although Toay said uninformed voters can take away a lot of information from watching the debates, he said they won’t affect the outcome of an election.

“Most of the time the winner of the debates are going to be the best speaker, not the best candidate,” he said. “Just because you are a good speaker doesn’t mean you are the best person for the job.”

Toay said the winner of the Arizona primary will be difficult to predict.

He said a McCain win looks doubtful, despite the fact he is a senator from the state. Arizona Gov. Jane Hull recently endorsed Bush, and Forbes took the state in 1996.

“I think that McCain probably will win New Hampshire, but that will probably be it,” Toay said.

Johnson agreed that McCain’s success will largely be limited to the state of New Hampshire.

“Bush is the front-runner in Iowa and South Carolina, and McCain has recently moved ahead in New Hampshire,” he said.

“But because of [McCain’s] total absence in Iowa and other states, it just doesn’t look good for him outside of New Hampshire,” Johnson said.