MANCHESTER, N.H. – Just three days from the first primary of the 2012 presidential campaign, a slightly reduced field of Republican candidates sparred freely Saturday night, but largely spared frontrunner Mitt Romney in the first to two debates they’ll endure over just 12 hours.

Romney, who has a double-digit lead in the Granite State, rarely had to defend himself at the ABC/Facebook debate at Saint Anselm College.

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