Cannon, Chaffetz and Ferguson all felt bigger differences exist, though all four claim to be fiscal conservatives who believe in core conservative principles. They all want to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for instance, and decried the fact that the federal government owns more than half of Utah's land.

"Utah should own Utah's land," Leavitt said.

The three challengers attacked Cannon's record on immigration and said Republicans should have done more in Washington when the party controlled the White House and the U.S. House and Senate.

Cannon has proudly supported President Bush and got help from the president and first lady in his last race, but Cannon defended his own immigration record Saturday to the point of criticizing Bush's presidency.

"The Bush Administration refused to enforce the border," Cannon said. "I have voted consistently to enforce the border," including votes to use military and increase the number of police on the border.

"I have a 100 percent record on enforcement. Illegal immigration is like a cancer."

Chaffetz shared the most specifics about his immigration policy. He endorsed making English the official language of the United States and the idea of revoking the birthright to citizenship.

Chaffetz pounded Cannon for being in office while the federal budget expanded from $1.5 trillion per year to $2.9 trillion. The national deficit has grown to $9.3 trillion, with $429 billion spent last year on interest alone.

The Utah state budget is $14 billion.

"We don't have a revenue problem in this country," Chaffetz said, "we have a spending problem," adding later, "there's nothing conservative about taking a budget and just about doubling it in 10 years. A congressman needs to be a watchdog of the president, not a lapdog for the president."

Cannon fired back at Chaffetz for living a few miles outside Utah's 3rd District, in the 2nd District, which has sent a Democrat in Congress.

"I think if Mr. Chaffetz really believed in conservative values," Cannon said, "he'd be running against his congressman, Jim Matheson."

Chaffetz responded, "I'd actually really like to get rid of both of you."

Chaffetz called fiscal discipline his signature issue and pledged not to use earmarks.

Leavitt joined in, saying with $9 trillion in debt and $53 trillion in unfunded liabilities for Medicare and Social Security, America is mortgaged to 95 percent of its value.

"We have serious problems in our economy and they're coming down on us hard and quickly," Leavitt said, blaming shortsightedness. "We have a Congress that does what it has to to get re-elected and a people that wants to live as rich as we can with as much debt as we can and when we're in trouble, we want the federal government to bail us out."

Ferguson had a practical answer.