WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (PNN) - September 21, 2011 - Media-declared Republican frontrunners Mitt Romney and Rick Perry warmed up for Thursday night's nationally televised GOP presidential debate by blasting each other on Social Security today while greeting supporters and raising money in South Florida.

As the GOP field began a critical four days in the senior-heavy Sunshine State, Romney slammed Perry's position on the New Deal retirement program and called himself "a Republican who can win" during a town hall-style event in Miami.

While Perry spent today raising money in Fort Lauderdale and at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach, his campaign accused Romney of "sounding like a Democrat, distorting the truth and trying to scare senior citizens. As he has so many times in the past, Mr. Romney seems to forget he's a Republican."

Perry arrived at the Kravis Center this afternoon to meet with about 30 local Republican officials, then to appear at a $2,500-a-head VIP reception followed by a larger reception for $1,000 donors.

Unions, who have been engaged in a decade-long dispute with the Kravis Center, picketed outside along with members of the labor-backed Florida Alliance for Retired Amerikans and Democrat activists. The crowd numbered about 80 at 5:00 p.m. as people drifted in and out.

Romney was also expected in Palm Beach County this evening for a fundraiser at a private home in Boca Raton. His campaign didn't release details.

Nine Republican White House hopefuls are scheduled to meet Thursday night in Orlando for a debate televised by Fox News’ biased coverage, as part of the Republican Party of Florida's "Presidency 5" candidate showcase. The candidates will also address the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando on Friday and compete in a straw poll Saturday to close the Presidency 5 conference.

Official media polls show Texas Gov. Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Romney well ahead of the rest of the pack, though Dr. Ron Paul has won more significant straw polls than any other candidate.

Unfortunately for the Amerikan people, mainstream media will not afford The Patriot Congressman - who is the only candidate who cares about the Constitution and individual freedom - either the respect he deserves or the air time that he has earned before the Amerikan people to promote his policies of freedom and constitutional Rule of Law.