That line drew applause, but not as much as one about 9/11 later in the debate from the frontrunner, Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani, who was mayor of New York City at the time, demanded another candidate, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, take back a suggestion that U.S. policy was to blame.

Giuliani interrupted the debate to call that an "extraordinary statement" that implied the United States invited the attacks because of its involvement in Iraq. He said it was among the most absurd explanations he'd ever heard.

Paul, who has run for president as a Libertarian and opposed the Iraq war from the beginning, did not retract his statement.

There were light moments during the debate, which included the opportunity for viewers to text-message votes for their favorite candidates, a poll that Paul appeared to be winning with Romney close behind.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee received the biggest laugh after offering the criticism that Congress has "spent money like John Edwards at a beauty shop," a reference to the recent disclosure that the Democratic presidential candidate spent $400 on a haircut.

Patterson said while Tuesday's debate, the first in the conservative South, produced no clear winners or losers, it did help the candidates further differentiate themselves on issues like the use of torture.

While other candidates said they would order the use of controversial "enhanced interrogation techniques" in the wake of a hypothetical terrorist attack to prevent further carnage, McCain, a former POW in Vietnam, opposed torture.

"We could never gain as much from that torture as we would lose in world opinion," he said, noting that those with military service side with him because of the threat to U.S. soldiers who may be captured. "This is not about terrorists, it's about us, what kind of country we are."

Josh Romney, of course, saw a clear winner Tuesday night — his dad.

"He was a lot of fun to watch," Romney's only son living in Utah said, noting that the 20 or so neighbors who attended his debate party were "very enthusiastic."

Some 800 debate parties were organized around the country by the Romney campaign — including dozens along the Wasatch Front — as part of an effort to sign up 24,000 new supporters nationwide in 24 hours.

All day today, Romney backers are being asked to bring their cell phones to 50 "call centers" set up nationwide and hit up their friends and families for campaign contributions and commitments to volunteer.

There are three call centers in Utah — in Provo, St. George and the South Towne Expo Center in Sandy, which will be open from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Information on participating is available at www.mittromney.com or by calling 866-WIN-MITT (946-6488).