SPRINGFIELD - The debate Tuesday among the Republican candidates trying to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood reflected many of the campaigns' themes thus far with only three weeks left until the primary election.

Peppered for 90 minutes with familiar questions about the war in Iraq, the economy and energy, the candidates seemed to use their backgrounds and experiences to draw their sharpest contrasts.

"Despite being the youngest here, I have the most relevant experience," said state Rep. Aaron Schock, a 26-year-old Republican from Peoria.

He's facing Jim McConoughey of Dunlap, a Peoria-area businessman who emphasizes his economic development background in an effort to show he's a newcomer to politics.

Former Peoria City Council member John Morris has cited his local government experience as the asset that sets him apart.

The three met Tuesday at the University of Illinois at Springfield at one of dozens of debates and forums that already have filled the campaigns and will continue to in its final weeks.

"I'm out all day, every day, telling people who John Morris is," Morris said.

"We have three fine candidates up here," he added later. "I'm the best."

On issues of foreign policy, Schock once again took heat Tuesday for an early campaign statement about maybe selling nuclear weapons to Taiwan to convince China to help put pressure on Iran.

Schock has said he's "overstated his case," but McConoughey said using threatened military pressure in such a situation could be a bad idea.

"I fundamentally believe that we need to build coalitions of freedom-loving democracies," McConoughey said.

Voters will decide among the three candidates Feb. 5. The 18th Congressional District includes parts of Tazewell and Woodford counties, as well as northern parts of Decatur and the north Macon County area.

Illinoisans will vote in the presidential primary the same day.

The winner of the Feb. 5 primary election likely will face a yet-unknown Democrat in November. Democratic Party leaders get to pick a candidate after the primary to replace Dick Versace, who dropped out of the race in December.

Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or at 789-0865.