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Republicans ready to rumble in governor’s race debate

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Republicans Meg Whitman and Steve Poizner -- or as one speaker just described them, ‘Steve Whitman’ -- are squaring off for rhetorical supremacy in their first debate at 5:30 p.m. at the Samueli Theater in the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa. The debate is sponsored by the New Majority, a GOP group primarily led by business leaders who preach fiscal conservatism and social moderation.

Well-heeled observers have arrived, nursed cocktails and are now seated for the first clash between ex-EBay chief executive Whitman and state Insurance Commissioner Poizner. Among the audience members is Former Gov. Pete Wilson, Whitman’s campaign chairman, who is expected to declare victory for his candidate in a media spin session afterward.

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Both candidates are appearing after the debate; Poizner will speak to Orange County Republicans at a Hyatt in Irvine, while Whitman holds a rally at a Hilton near the debate hall.

--Michael Rothfeld in Costa Mesa

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