Rudy Giuliani defended his campaign's strategy of operating outside Iowa in his quest for the GOP presidential nomination.

"This was the best strategy, at least for us," Giuliani said in an appearance with CNN from Florida, which he said will play a critical part in the compressed primary schedule.

With 72 percent of precincts reporting, Giuliani was sixth in Iowa.

He said that Mike Huckabee's victory was a credit to his campaign and his "door-to-door, meeting-to-meeting" style. He said the result sets up a group of GOP candidates for voters to evaluate.

"Three or four weeks ago I would have been surprised," Giuliani said of the Huckabee victory. "It's not surprising right now."

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