Photos by Rob Varela / Star staff Above, area Republicans gather at the Ventura County party headquarters in Thousand Oaks to watch the Republican debate on television Wednesday. At left, Central Committee vice chairman Donald Yates was among those watching. The debate was held at the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley.

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Illegal immigration has to end, Mitt Romney said.

"Whoo-hoo!" cheered one of about 65 people gathered in front of a 37-inch television set.

The nation isn't better off than it was four years ago, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said.

"I think we are," argued a woman wearing a red, white and blue scarf.

Republican front-runners Romney and John McCain quarreled over who said what when.

"Stop it!" shouted the woman in the scarf as a colleague scolded the candidates. "All right, kids."

Republicans packed into the cramped county party headquarters in Thousand Oaks to watch Wednesday night's debate. They came to debate the debaters, size up candidates and, as a woman sipping a diet soda put it, because "we're not gazillionaires like the people invited to the Reagan Library."

Some focused most on who they didn't want to win. A Romney supporter detailed why she didn't think McCain was honest. A few minutes later, an attorney in cowboy boots said he was leaning toward the Arizona senator because Romney would say anything to get elected.

If not on their sleeves, many wore their allegiance on their chests — a Huckabee button here, a McCain sticker there. One woman wore a long-sleeved T-shirt that offered a pun on a candidate's faith. "Mitt Romney is more man," it said.

But the button that summed up the group's feelings belonged to 68-year-old Jean McGuire of Camarillo. "YCERSOYA," it said, or as McGuire translated: "You can't elect Republicans sitting on your (rear)."

The people were looking not at California's primary but at November. Many had boiled down the Republican race to former Massachusetts Gov. Romney or McCain.

"I think that's where it should be right now," said Ray Kallaher, a systems engineer who lives in Thousand Oaks. "I think we should be looking for someone who can beat Hillary (Rodham Clinton)."

Kallaher said he thinks McCain may have a better chance but called himself undecided.

Regina Risolio, a volunteer chaplain from Thousand Oaks, would love to vote for Huckabee. But she wants a conservative nominee and worries her man may have less of a chance than Romney of stopping McCain from winning.

Promises to fight illegal immigration drew nods of approval. Opposition to abortion rights brought an "Amen." Texas Rep. Ron Paul's criticism of the war in Iraq drew angry protests.

The loudest reactions came when McCain and Romney wrestled over what seemed like every issue. People hooted at what they perceived as McCain's attacks, like when he suggested Ronald Reagan would never have supported Romney.

When the debate was over, a local party official threw out names and asked people to applaud their favorite. McCain drew a loud "Hell no." Huckabee drew enthusiastic clapping, but Romney brought the most applause.

"I think Mitt Romney won. He stuck to his guns," said Andy Hall, a store manager from Camarillo. "McCain had to go to cheap shots, one after another."