Analysis: Republican hopefuls are giving Obama room to breathe By CHARLES BABINGTON Published on Friday 24 February 2012 00:00 THE longer US Republican presidential candidates compete for conservative activists" favour, the more they risk alienating centre voters who might feel arguments over birth control are crowding out talk about how to create jobs. Wednesday's televised debate in Arizona highlighted the dilemma. The four rivals engaged in long discussions of education policy and congressional spending on specific projects. Talk of jobs and the economy took up less time and stirred less passion. Rick Santorum's recent rise to near-even with Mitt Romney in the polls has focused new attention on social issues, especially abortion and birth control. Those topics fire up the religiously conservative crowds he often draws, but might turn off moderate voters worried about finding or keeping jobs. Meanwhile, there are signs that President Barack Obama may be benefiting from the Republican focus on social issues. A new Associated Press-GfK Poll gave Mr Obama an eight-point lead over Mr Romney, nine points over Mr Santorum and 10 points over Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul. The survey showed the president dominating among independents, a group central to his 2008 victory. Mr Obama is far from safe, of course, and any number of problems - starting with a possible economic dip - could undo him before the election. But his supporters had to be happy with a two-hour Republican debate that often showed the candidates quarrelling over congressional procedures. The debate, six days ahead of the Arizona and Michigan primaries, was difficult for Mr Santorum. The former Pennsylvania senator got pinned down trying to explain his vote for president George Bush's "No Child Left Behind" education programme. "I have to admit, I voted for that," Mr Santorum said. It was against the principles I believed in, but, you know, when you're part of the team, sometimes you take one for the team. The debate went much better for Mr Romney, the Republican establishment's preferred candidate. But he also spent precious time trying to explain why he supported bail-outs for banks but not the car industry. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich did not show his traditional bombast, and it's unclear whether he gained any ground on Mr Santorum and Mr Romney. Mr Paul, the Texas congressman, stuck to his libertarian themes. Mr Santorum's surge has forced all the candidates to talk more about social issues, with varying degrees of comfort. He began discussing the decline of the American family and "the increasing number of children being born out of wedlock in America, teens who are sexually active." It seemed an argument that might justify birth control, but no-one challenged him on that. Mr Paul, who delivered many babies as a doctor, said birth control "can't be blamed for the immorality of our society." Even with 10 states voting in the 6 March "Super Tuesday" primary, the Republican contest shows no sign of wrapping up soon. The longer the candidates talk about social issues, the longer Mr Obama will breathe a little easier.