ROCKLIN, Calif. (AP) - Iraq, national security and congressional corruption were among the dominant issues Wednesday in the only scheduled debate between Republican Congressman John Doolittle and his opponent Charlie Brown _ the latest round of sparring in a race that has captured national attention.

Doolittle tried to paint Brown as a liberal who would “cut and run in the war on terror” and who is “wrong on every major issue” in the historically Republican 4th Congressional District. Brown, meanwhile, said he would offer voters a change from what he called the corruption and failed policies of the eight-term incumbent.

The two-hour debate was held in the studios of Starstream Communications in Rocklin. The candidates fielded questions from local media as well as voters by telephone.

Local matters were largely overshadowed by national and global issues, with the candidates establishing themselves as polar opposites in almost all cases.

Doolittle pounded Brown for his membership in the American Civil Liberties Union, his failure to come out strongly against gay marriage and his opposition to the invasion of Iraq _ all of which he said were signs Brown was “totally out of touch” with area voters.

Brown labeled Doolittle a “career politician” and said it was time “to get people into Washington who are normal citizens, trying to do the right thing, putting service before self.”

Both candidates acknowledged that the race was the most competitive in recent memory in the district, which stretches from the eastern Sacramento region to Lake Tahoe and north to the Oregon border.

Brown has proven himself a formidable challenger in his first bid for public office. But the 56-year-old retired Air Force lieutenant colonel faces a struggle in a district where Republicans hold a 48-to-30 percent registration edge over Democrats.

Doolittle, 55, is a seasoned politician who started his political career in the state Senate, where he served for 10 years.

And in the face of the possible loss of Republican dominance in Congress, conservative voters may see the District 4 election as part of a bigger picture, experts say.

“The race is closer than Doolittle has dealt with before, and Republican voters will be concerned about turning over Congress to the Democrats,” said Barbara O’Connor, director of the Institute for the Study of Politics and the Media at California State University, Sacramento.

Doolittle expressed confidence that he would stay in office, saying efforts by the Democrats to link him to the “phony Republican culture of corruption” had failed.

Brown has criticized Doolittle throughout the campaign for his ties to Jack Abramoff, the GOP lobbyist who pleaded guilty in a conspiracy to corrupt public officials.

Doolittle accepted campaign money from Abramoff, interceded on behalf of his clients and used the lobbyist’s luxury sports box for a fundraiser without initially reporting it. In addition, Doolittle’s wife and one of his former aides worked for the lobbyist.

Doolittle has described Abramoff as a close friend but has denied having any role in the lobbyist’s illegal activities. He has refused to return Abramoff’s donations, saying he did nothing wrong in taking them.

He also has ignored Brown’s call to return a $1,000 donation from a political action committee run by Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., who resigned Sept. 29 after revelations that he sent sexually explicit messages to underage male congressional pages.

Brown has said that as a member of the House GOP leadership, Doolittle should say what he knew about Foley’s actions.

Whether substantive claims or just political rhetoric, all the talk of scandal seems to have sparked concern within the Republican Party. As of Tuesday, the National Republican Congressional Committee had spent over $36,000 to boost Doolittle’s campaign.

President Bush in early October came to California to campaign for Doolittle and Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy. The pricey Doolittle luncheon with Bush raised an estimated $600,000.

Brown, meanwhile, has appeared with both retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark and Vietnam veteran and former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland, D-Ga. The events aimed to enhance Brown’s image as a respected, career military man.

Brown left the Air Force in 1998 after 26 years of service and spent the next eight years on the professional staff of the Roseville Police Department. His wife Jan also served in the Air Force as a nurse and his son Jeff is an Air Force Captain who has completed three tours of duty in Iraq.