GOP hopefuls in final Iowa debate pitch

JOHNSTON, Iowa, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Republican presidential candidates appeared Wednesday in the final GOP debate in Iowa before party caucuses Jan. 3.

On the question of whether the U.S. debt is a threat to national security, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he wouldn't call it a threat to national security, but "I would call it economic security."

Giuliani said he would impose spending caps in civilian agencies in government and reduce taxes.

When asked if there were programs he was willing to run in deficit spending, one-time Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said, "(We) don't have to run a deficit to pay for the things that are most important because we can eliminate the things that aren't critical."

Several candidates during the debate in Johnston, Iowa, said energy independence would help alleviate government spending and the national debt.

"We have got to achieve energy independence, oil independence in this nation," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. "I will make it a Manhattan Project, and we will in five years become oil independent."

The United States developed nuclear weapons through the Manhattan Project.

Recent polls show former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee surging ahead of Romney and the other contenders.

The Democrats will have their last Iowa debate Thursday.