Looking for votes in Iowa, former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich touted his support for ethanol on Thursday and said it would be part of his all-American energy plan.

Gingrich said he voted for gasohol as a congressman during the Reagan administration. He said his later support for ethanol subsidies was key to getting the program implemented.

“If I have to choose between the next billion dollars (for energy) going to Iraq or Iowa, I prefer Iowa,” Gingrich said. Gingrich complimented Iowa on its investment in alternative energy, noting that the Hawkeye State is second to the country of Denmark in wind-generated power.

Gingrich has been a strong supporter of ethanol subsidies while campaigning in Iowa, according to the website Politico. The website reported that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been non-committal about continuing ethanol subsidies, although he supported them in the past to get the industry on its feet.

Gingrich spent most of Thursday in Virginia. Thursday night, he hosted a telephone town hall for Iowa voters. Frequently during the event, he or his host encouraged listeners to press numbers on their keypad to commit to supporting Gingrich at the upcoming Jan. 3 caucuses.

In response to one question, Gingrich said Attorney General Eric Holder played the race card when speaking about some of the critics of the Fast and Furious gunrunning debacle. In speaking to the New York Times, Holder said more extreme elements of his critics were attacking him because of his and the President’s race.

“It’s all they’ve got left,” Gingrich said. “They can’t argue the facts. All they’ve got left is the race card,” he said.

Gingrich said he believed government officials were using Fast and Furious to discredit honest Americans by creating a false trail, which would eventually be used to implement gun control.

Gingrich said he had called for Holder’s resignation more than a year ago. House Republicans should subpoena Justice Department records about Fast and Furious, and if Holder does not comply, the House should cut off the department’s funding, Gingrich said.

Gingrich urged his listeners to take time off this weekend to celebrate Christmas and reflect on the miracle that happened 2,011 years ago.