Gingrich’s rivals had spent most of the previous week’s debate in Des Moines whacking on him. This final debate before the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses was far tamer.
One of the most dramatic moments came when Ron Paul suggested that worries about Iran’s potential nuclear powers are exaggerated and warned against overreaction.
“There’s no U.N. evidence of Iran trying to get a nuclear weapon,” he said. “To me the greatest danger is that we will have a president who will overreact and we will soon bomb Iran.”
That triggered a whiplash response from Michele Bachmann, who called his claim “dangerous.”
Analysts had warned before the debate that Paul’s pacifist themes could alienate conservatives, but the Texas congressman argued that he will be electable in the general election because he appeals to independents and Democrats.
Mr Gingrich said in his opening remarks: "I believe I can debate Barack Obama and I think in seven three-hour debates, Barack Obama will not have a leg to stand on in trying to defend a record that is terrible and an ideology that is radical."
Mr Romney lambasted President Obama for trying to "appease or accommodate the tyrants of the world", criticising his approach to retrieving a drone which recently went down in Iran.
"Foreign policy based on pretty please? You have to be kidding," Mr Romney said.
He chose not to take the bait when the moderator asked whether he would like to respond to a previous challenge by Mr Gingrich that the former governor of Massachusetts should give back the millions he earned bankrupting companies while working at a private equity group.
"I think the president will level the same attack," Mr Romney said. "In the real world that the president has not lived in... not every business succeeds."
While the two front-runners sought to stay positive, despite increasingly barbed attacks in their day-to-day campaigns, they came under fire from Mrs Bachmann and Mr Santorum.
Mrs Bachmann forcefully assailed Mr Gingrich for collecting "influence-peddling" fees from government-owned mortgage lender Freddie Mac, which is blamed by many conservatives for America's home foreclosure crisis. She said his role had been to "keep the scam going".
"What she just said is factually not true," Mr Gingrich shot back. "I never lobbied under any circumstances."
As for Romney, he repeatedly argued that Obama does not have any business experience and does not understand the U.S. economy.
"I'll have credibility on the economy, when he doesn't," said Romney, a former Massachusetts governor who also led a capital investment firm known as Bain Capital.
Electability was a strong issue in the debate as Republicans seek the best candidate to take on Obama.
Romney is seen by some as someone who will not be able to stand up to Obama on a national stage. He disputed that, arguing his 25 years in business make him the best candidate to tackle the Democrat when the economy will be at center stage in next year's campaign.
Gingrich tried to counter the argument that he often shoots from the hip and can't win the support of independents. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad recently questioned whether Gingrich had the "discipline" or "focus" to be the GOP nominee.
Gingrich argued that he has shown himself capable of working with members on both sides of the political aisle, saying that during his years as House speaker he worked with Democratic President Bill Clinton to pass a balanced budget and welfare reform.
While Romney did not attack Gingrich, other GOP candidates who are struggling in the polls took several shots at him.
Michele Bachmann aggressively took Gingrich to task for taking $1.6 million in consulting fees from Freddie Mac, the controversial mortgage company. She accused him of "influence peddling" and working to keep a government "scam" going when other Republicans were trying to shut it down.
Gingrich said he worked for Freddie Mac as a consultant when he was no longer in office.
Gingrich stood by his work for Freddie Mac, saying he continues to support the idea that government-sponsored entities can help Americans to buy homes.
The debate also afforded Iowans a rare glimpse of Jon Huntsman, the former Utah governor who has essentially ignored the Hawkeye State.
Huntsman, who supports civil unions for gays and is Obama's former ambassador to China, figured he could not compete in a state that has a strong social conservative movement.
Huntsman was asked if his refusal to sign a no-new-tax pledge would handicap him.
He argued it would actually help in a general election, trying to position himself as a moderate who could woo Democrats and independents.
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