With the Iowa Caucus only hours away, Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., spoke at Krause Gentle in West Des Moines Thursday afternoon focusing on the strengthening foreign policy and foreign oil dependency.

The Republican candidate said the nation must find a solution to its dependency on foreign oil.

“Let’s bring an end to foreign oil dependency,” Romney said. “It will likely include more nuclear power, liquid coal, the clean burning coal, and all the renewable resources such as solar and wind.”

Crude oil briefly crossed the $100 per barrel mark on Wednesday before falling back.

Romney said fighting the war on terror was vitally important and would be an international effort.

“We’re not only going to have to be strong militarily, but strong in using our other resources along with other nations of the world and help strengthen moderate voices in the Muslim world,” Romney said.

Romney also spoke about more of his platform including health care and education.

Romney said the Democrats want to solve health care coverage by going with the “European answer” and socializing it so everyone pays for medicine.

“We found out a way to do [the free market and free enterprise system] in my state,” Romney said.

He said a way to look at education is to look at how school’s compare to those schools in developing nations such as India and China.

Romney, who is running second in some GOP caucusing polls – such as Wednesday’s Des Moines Register poll – and first in others, is currently in a heated contest with former Gov. Mike Huckabee, R-Ark.

“We’re down to the wire here,” he said. “And I don’t like to forecast [predictions].”

Romney touted his previous experience as governor and work with the Olympic Committee in bringing the winter games to Salt Lake City in 2002 as a way to say he was a leader who had the capability to be a strong president.

Bill Kominski, of Waukee, Iowa, said he liked what Romney said but will caucus for Huckabee.

“He makes some good points,” Kominski said, who works at Krause Gentle. “From his business views, he stands for promise. But there are certainly issues I do not agree with him on.”

Krause Gentle is the headquarters for Kum & Go, Liberty Bank and Solar Transport.