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Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry squared off over their jobs records at the Republican presidential debate Wednesday night. The two frontrunners for the nomination took center stage at the GOP debate that kept most of its focus on economy.

The debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California was also Perry's debate debut. Perry, who announced his candidacy last month, has edged ahead of Romney this week in nationwide polls. Most questions at the debate, even though posed to the other six candidates, focused on Romney's and Perry's positions.

Perry reaffirmed previous statements he's made on the campaign trail regarding climate change, capital punishment and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Although Perry said last month that his decision to issue an executive order mandating a vaccine against the sexually transmitted HPV was a "mistake," at the debate he stood by his reasons for the decision. "At the end of the day, I will always err on the side of saving lives," Perry said, adding that he "probably" should have let the Texas state government legislate the decision rather than ordering it as governor.

Perry said he felt like "a pinata at the party" after receiving criticism for his decision from Texas Rep. Ron Paul and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann.

When asked about Texas' death penalty, referring to the 234 executions during Perry's three terms as governor of the state, Perry paused for applause from the audience. "I think Americans understand justice," Perry said. "In the state of Texas, if you come into our state and you kill one of our children, you kill a police officer, you're involved with another crime and you kill one of our citizens, you will face the ultimate justice in the state of Texas, and that is, you will be executed."

Perry, a strong believer in states' rights to legislate most laws on a state-by-state basis, said other states did not have to implement a death penalty. He defended Texas' "thoughtful" process ...

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