The Republicans and Democrats running in a special election to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler adhered to their respective party lines on most other issues during the nonpartisan Voters Coalition forum at the South County Civic Center west of Delray Beach.

Primaries are Feb. 2 and the general election is April 13 to replace Wexler, who is leaving office in January to head the nonprofit Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation.

Deutch, a state Senator from Boca Raton running with Wexler's endorsement, commended President Barack Obama's Tuesday speech on Afghanistan, rating it a 9 when asked to put it on a scale of 1 to 10.

"I find it really refreshing having a president who actually thought through a policy before announcing it to this country. I thought it was a thoughtful speech," Deutch said.

Graber, a former Broward County mayor and state House member who ran as a no-party candidate against Wexler last year and got 6.6 percent, highlighted his anti-war stance during his opening and closing remarks.

"I'm against the escalation in Afghanistan, I'm against the war in Iraq. Until we stop fighting, until we reduce the militarism in this country, we're not going to balance our budget," Graber said.

Among Republicans, Budd gave Obama's speech a 7 out of 10. He said Obama "did the right thing" but "it took too long to do it."

Lynch gave the speech a 10 on oratory and a 1 on policy.

"I'm sick and tired of hearing about an exit strategy. I want a victory strategy," Lynch said. By discussing withdrawal in 18 months, Lynch said, "we basically told our enemies what our game plan is."

Price rated Obama's speech a 3 or 4 out of 10. He explained later that he supports more troops in Afghanistan, but faulted Obama for announcing a withdrawal timetable.

When an audience member asked the candidates if they supported "universal military training to send a message to the world that we're not a bunch of cream puffs," the three Republicans were supportive of the idea.

Deutch said he favored encouraging national service, but not necessarily in the military. Graber said that "if we're going to become a militaristic country, other countries will respond by becoming militaristic."

Price, Budd and Lynch staked out similar positions opposing tax increases, gun control and a government-run public option for health insurance. All three said tort reform should be part of any health care legislation.

Graber and Deutch said they support a public option and some form of gun control.

On tort reform, Graber, who is a physician, said malpractice suits and resulting defensive medicine are a costly problem and he favors a system of mandatory arbitration.

Said Deutch, who is an attorney: "The judicial system is easy to bash unless you actually need to utilize the judicial system." He said cuts in Medicare reimbursement rates are a bigger concern for doctors.