The republican presidential contenders listen to Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., during the first Republican debate of the 2008 campaign Thursday at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif.

Simi Valley, Calif. ? Alone among 10 Republican presidential contenders, Rudy Giuliani said in campaign debate Thursday night “it would be OK” if the Supreme Court upholds a 1973 landmark abortion rights ruling.

“It would be OK to repeal it. It would be OK also if a strict constructionist viewed it as precedent,” said the former New York city mayor, who has a record of supporting abortion rights.

In a party that draws strength from anti-abortion voters, Giuliani’s nine GOP rivals agreed that it would be a great day if the court overturns the landmark ruling.

“Glorious day of human liberty and freedom,” enthused Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney acknowledged he had changed his mind on the subject when he began to delve into the issue of cloning. He said his position had once effectively been “pro-choice.”

But Giuliani, who said he personally hates abortion, hedged when asked about his current position.

“I think the court has to make that decision and then the country can deal with it,” he said. “The states could then make their own decisions.”

Alone among the top three contenders, Arizona Sen. John McCain has a career-long record of opposition to abortion.

The 10 rivals showed their conservative credentials across 90 minutes of debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, each claiming to be a worthy heir to the political legacy of the late 40th president.

They stressed the importance of persisting in Iraq, called for lower taxes and a muscular defense and supported spending restraint.

“The first pork barrel, earmark bill that crosses my desk I’m going to veto it and I’m going to make the author famous,” McCain said.

Romney jumped in at that, saying that as governor he had cast a veto “hundreds of times.” Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson put his total at some 1,900 vetoes.

The field split on another issue, with Brownback, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo raising their hands when moderator Chris Matthews asked who did not believe in evolution.

Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean boldly said the debate “confirms that a Democrat will be elected in 2008. The Republican presidential contenders are only offering more of the same failed leadership and misplaced priorities that President Bush brought to the White House.”

Giuliani, McCain and Romney were the first among 10 equals on the debate stage – the men with the most money and the best approval ratings in the polls more than eight months before the first 2008 national convention delegates are selected.

Other participants included former Gov. Jim Gilmore of Virginia; and Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Ron Paul of Texas.

They debated in the shadow of Reagan’s Air Force One, the aircraft hanging suspended in the library’s pavilion. The 40th president’s widow, Nancy Reagan, sat in the front row next to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

One by one, the candidates invoked Ronald Reagan – he was mentioned 19 times.

The issue of abortion looms large in the 2008 presidential campaign in a party where a wide swath of political activists support the overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.