GOP Prez Hopefuls Vary on Shutdown Compromise

Leading potential Republican presidential candidates over the weekend took a wide range of positions on the last-minute deal that prevented a government shutdown, warning of bigger battles to come, USA Today reported Monday.

Standing strongly against the deal were Rep. Michele Bachmann and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Bachmann voted against the compromise.

"Sadly, we're missing the mandate given us by voters last November, and for that reason, I voted against the continuing resolution," she said, referring to the measure that kept the government operating until a final bill can be drafted.

Palin said she was unhappy with the deal, but was preparing for the bigger fight over raising the nation’s debt ceiling. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee praised House Speaker John Boehner for pressuring Democrats to make deeper cuts than they wanted. He to said the debt ceiling issue is looming.

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour and former House speaker Newt Gingrich said the deal was a good first step.

"This is a loaf we've got to be willing to eat one slice at a time," Barbour said.
During a speech Saturday, Gingrich said, "This is a building block. The next big step is the debt ceiling, and we should challenge President Obama right now. This doesn't have to go down to the wire. This doesn't have to go down to the last night."