The favorite Mitt Romney under fire from critics of his Republican rivals

Mitt Romney, the favorite of the race for the Republican nomination for the presidency in November, was severely attacked by opponents pugnacious Monday night during a debate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Mr. Romney won the first two steps, Iowa and New Hampshire, the selection process of the candidate who will face the incumbent president Democrat Barack Obama for president.

To fly to the inauguration, it relies on a new victory in South Carolina where a primary election will be held Saturday.

But Monday night, his opponents have tried everything to destabilize it. Mr. Romney has faced four other Republican still in the running: Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Rick Santorum and Rick Perry.

The Christian conservative Santorum has embarked on a violent challenge to Mr. Romney and the political action committee ("SuperPac") that supports it. He criticized the pharmacy to have placed on our television screens a spot that said he supported the vote from convicted prisoners.

Rick Santorum described the accusation as "inaccurate," adding that Mr. Romney has authorized such a practice when he was governor of Massachusetts.

nvestment fund Bain Capital in 1980 and 1990. According to his opponents, he would have "robbed" of enterprises, enriching the way.

"There was a practice in some companies (...) to leave with a huge debt, and then one, two or three years, to lead them to bankruptcy. I think he should answer that," Gingrich said.

Mr. Romney said his assessment was "positive" and that his action has created tens of thousands of jobs.

Furthermore, under the increased pressure of his opponents, he said for the first time that he would reveal the amount of taxes: "If I become a candidate (Republican) - in the past people have published to April - is probably what I'll do. "

Against opponents on the offensive, Romney reiterated his loyalty to the Republican credo: minimal government intervention in economic life. He found there was no need for the United States "to run in Europe to save their banking system."

For his part, Mr. Gingrich has earned applause by describing Obama as President of the "good food", lambasting the dependence of poor Americans to the federal government.

Mr. Paul has maintained its non-interventionist positions, but has drawn condemnation from the public by saying: "we bomb these endless other countries and then we wonder why they are wrong."

Monday morning, the moderate Jon Huntsman, whose campaign never really took off, announced its withdrawal from the race for the Republican nomination and called for support Mr. Romney.

Huntsman slammed the aggressive tone and "nauseating" which he said took control of the campaign between Republican candidates.

Mr. Romney is leading in the polls in South Carolina, but his membership in the Mormon religion could become a handicap in this southern state, where 60% of Republican voters are evangelical Christians.

A new poll CNN / ORC on Monday, Mr. Romney is neck and neck with Obama, Republican taking a slight edge to 48% against 47% among registered voters. Obama keeps edge over MM. Gingrich, Santorum and Paul, according to the poll conducted January 11 and 12 to 1021 people, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. ONLINE