Cedar Rapids, Ia. - Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani said in Iowa on Friday that President Bush's response to terrorism will ensure his legacy is that of "a great president."

"He will be, I believe, a president who will be viewed by history for this one decision as being a great president," the former New York mayor told about 100 Cedar Rapids-area Republicans during a quick campaign stop in eastern Iowa. "He decided in a flash to put our country on offense against terrorism."

National public opinion polls show slightly fewer than half of Americans approve of President Bush's performance in fighting terrorism.

The issue rated high among election-year priorities with voters last fall, however.

The former mayor, closely associated with the 2001 attacks in New York City, stresses the issue as one of two pillars to his candidacy for the GOP presidential nomination.

"The very best way to deal with it, which I understand ... is for America to be on offense against terrorism and never, ever, ever go back to being on defense," Giuliani said during a 45-minute forum at a heavy equipment dealership on Cedar Rapids' north side.

Most recent public opinion polls show a small percentage of Americans consider terrorism the top issue facing the country, well behind the war in Iraq, the economy and health care.

However, a number of national polls taken before last year's elections showed terrorism rated higher as a motivating issue for voters, just behind the war and health care.

The event at Rexco Equipment, where Giuliani spoke for about 10 minutes before taking questions for about 30 minutes, was his only public event in Iowa.

Giuliani met privately with GOP activists in Cedar Rapids before the forum, and took no questions from the news media covering the forum.

Making his third trip to the leadoff caucus state as a presidential candidate, Giuliani arrived in Iowa Friday morning after participating in the first debate of the 2008 campaign Thursday in California.

Giuliani was the only candidate of the 10 at the nationally televised debate to say that it would be acceptable to keep in place Roe vs. Wade, the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing abortion.

The moment underscored Giuliani's support for abortion rights, which is a deal-breaker for some conservative Iowa Republicans, who make up a healthy portion of caucus activists in the state.

Cedar Rapids Republican Bob Tribuno said Giuliani's moderate position on abortion was "disappointing," but would not keep him from considering supporting Giuliani in the caucuses.

"I'm looking for a proven leader and someone who stands on a set of values that doesn't shift in the wind," the retired engineer said. "I could accept a candidate who disagrees with me on some things, if he is a leader with principles."

Unlike his more socially conservative rivals, Giuliani stresses his commitment to reducing government spending as the policy companion to fighting terrorism.

A number of the questions from the Cedar Rapids audience of business owners, farmers and political activists focused on taxes and the economy.

Giuliani proposed making permanent the tax cuts enacted under Bush, repealing the estate tax and keeping flat the capital gains tax rate.

But the candidate's two biggest applause lines came when he reminded the group of his association with Sept. 11, 2001, and Bush's performance in its aftermath.

"He reversed years of being on defense," Giuliani said of the president. "He reversed it immediately. He put us immediately on offense, and we have been safe as a result of that. And he deserves credit for that," he said, sparking applause.

Reporter Thomas Beaumont can be reached at (515) 286-2532 or tbeaumont@dmreg.com