URHAM, N.H. - Five Republicans running for president made a determined effort to hold a debate last night but couldn't fill the void left by the absence of the front-runner.
Texas Governor George W. Bush skipped the one-hour discussion of the economy, foreign policy, education, and abortion, sponsored by the New Hampshire Primary Debate Partnership, in order to attend a fund-raiser for the Vermont Republican Party at the Sugarbush ski resort nearby.
''It was an incredible insult to the voters of New Hampshire,'' said Gary Bauer, after the forum. ''The nomination shouldn't be decided by how much money you can raise. He was in the vicinity, but he high-tailed it out of the state.''
Steve Forbes, the publisher, said New Hampshire voters were given the opportunity to see the candidates debating the issues in a civil manner. Bush, he said, was ''the big loser'' for not showing up.
''I think the price is going to be paid ultimately,'' Forbes said.
Despite their dismay, none of the candidates brought up Bush's name during the televised debate at the University of New Hampshire. Instead, it was moderator Cokie Roberts who asked what they thought of Bush's remark earlier in the day that people ought to be able to disagree on the subject of abortion.
Bauer called Bush's remark ''nonsensical,'' and said, ''I wish he were here so we can talk to him about it.''
''Nobody is suggesting you can't believe something,'' Bauer said. ''The question is what will the law of the United States say? I believe the law of the United States should say that all children, black, white, rich, poor, born and unborn ought to be welcomed into the world and protected by the law.''
Bauer vowed that he would not put one person on the federal bench who disagrees with his view.
Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican whose standing has been rising steadily in recent New Hampshire polls, agreed with Bush. He cited his ''17-year, pro-life voting record,'' but said people on both sides of the issue could work together to eliminate the need for abortions.
''There's too much polarization; there's too much bitterness and hatred and anger,'' McCain said. ''We need to sit down and have a dialogue.''
Also participating in last night's forum were Utah Senator Orrin G. Hatch and Alan Keyes, the talk show host and former ambassador.
For the most part, the five politicians agreed on a variety of issues. On education, for example, each one approved of school choice for parents to send their children to any school, public or private.
''Education is a monopoly,'' said Forbes. ''Monopolies don't work in business and they don't work in education. Every parent should have the freedom to send their child to the school of their choice.''
McCain said choice, competition, charter schools, and merit pay for teachers are all important, as well as breaking ''the grip of the teachers' unions,'' to improve education.
''There's no reason a good teacher should earn less than a bad senator,'' McCain said.
Hatch noted that President Clinton and Vice President Al Gore sent their children to private schools.
''If parents aren't getting a good education for their children in the inner cities, they ought to be able to walk,'' said Hatch.
Rather than take shots at one another, each candidate stressed his agenda. Hatch spoke of his years of experience in the Senate, overseeing foreign policy, education, and other major issues. McCain decried pork-barrel spending in Congress, as well an inability to accomplish anything because of special interest contributions to lawmakers and the political parties.
Keyes decried socialism and called for morality in government. Forbes said his business experience would help him keep the country ''on the path of true prosperity.'' And finally, Bauer emphasized his work for former president Reagan and a need to rein in the federal government bureaucracy.
The New Hampshire primary is scheduled for Feb. 1, 2000. The candidates will meet again next week at Dartmouth College for a town hall forum.
