A debate between John McCain and Mitt Romney over leadership credentials spiraled Saturday into a resume-belittling showdown as the Republican presidential race grew ever more intense ahead of Florida’s pivotal primary.

“I don’t think somebody from the inside is going to be able to turn Washington inside out,” Romney said — a shot at McCain, a four-term senator.

Countered McCain, who unlike Romney spent decades in the military: “It’s very important to have served our country in war and in peace.”

Trailing both widely, Rudy Giuliani argued that he is a perfect combination of the two — encompassing McCain’s foreign policy strength and Romney’s economic know-how.

“I’ve had experience in both areas and results in both areas,” the former New York mayor said.

Giuliani aside, the escalating tit-for-tat between McCain and Romney underscores the closeness of the race and just how much is at stake for both men.

Polls show the Arizona senator and the former Massachusetts governor locked in a tight race for the lead in a state that offers the winner a hefty 57 delegates to the GOP’s nominating convention next summer and a shot of energy heading into a virtual national primary on Feb. 5.

A mild debate Thursday between five Republican presidential hopefuls has given way to daily clashes between McCain and Romney.

“I spent my time in the economy, as I said. I know something about it,” Romney said Saturday after touring a St. Petersburg retail direct marketing company. He was contrasting his own 25-year record in the private sector with that of his chief opponent — McCain has been in the military or in Congress for most of his working life — though without naming him.

A day earlier, Romney pointedly said of McCain: “He’s engaging in ‘Washington talk.’ Washington talk says that somehow, because you’ve been in Washington, and you’ve been on a committee, that you somehow know about how the jobs of this country have been created.”

On Saturday, McCain sought to rebut Romney’s criticisms in a unique fashion: He dispatched an ally, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, to Romney’s event. Ridge offered to give an Associated Press reporter a ride to Romney’s next event so they could discuss economic leadership.

“I understand where Mitt’s coming from, but it’s a non sequitur in the history of Republican politics,” said Ridge, a fellow Vietnam veteran who entered the U.S. House in 1983 with McCain. He recalled that Ronald Reagan was president at the time and did not have CEO experience when he was elected in 1980.

“Ronald Reagan could have gone from being GE spokesman right into the White House with the convictions that he had,” Ridge said.

“For me, the most important element is not if you’re a CEO or a governor; it is is there a philosophy consistent with the Reagan philosophy that you cut taxes and keep spending under control,” Ridge said.

In Fort Myers, McCain visited a tourist destination, the Shell Factory and Nature Park, and defended his resume, saying: “I held a job leading, leading in the United States military, and I think most of the young men and women in service in the U.S. military view that as a real job.”

He hammered Romney on his economic record as Massachusetts governor, arguing that it’s not as pure as Romney makes it to be.

“Americans admire and appreciate good managers, and I promise you, I will appoint a whole bunch of good ones, but they’re also looking for a leader, that’s what their primary focus is, and a person who can lead in this struggle against radical Islamic extremists,” McCain said.

Giuliani, for his part, sought to stay above the fray.

“I see what they’re saying about each other and I believe I combine the two things that they’re talking about. One is pointing to the other and saying ‘you don’t know enough about the economy.’ The other is pointing at the first one and saying ‘you don’t know enough about foreign policy,’” Giuliani said. “With me, you get both.”

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Associated Press Writers Glen Johnson in St. Petersburg, Fla., and Libby Quaid in Fort Myers, Fla., contributed to this report.