DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ Presidential candidates must be forced to address needed Social Security reforms, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey said Tuesday during a visit to Iowa aimed at doing just that.

Armey said he's organizing people in key states such as Iowa, where the lead-off precinct caucuses traditionally launch the nominating season, to spark debate on the issue.

''I want to develop a group of people here and in New Hampshire and in South Carolina so that when these guys get off the plane there are people who say we understand that retirement security is the critical issue of our generation and we don't even want you to talk to us until you make it clear you are going to fix this problem,'' Armey said in an interview.

Armey, a Texas Republican who was a leader of the GOP's 1994 takeover of Congress, left the House in January 2003 and now heads a group called Freedom Works. The organization advocates for slashing government spending and overhauling Social Security _ two issues that Armey contends potential presidential candidates of both parties should be forced to address.

''My observation over the years is that politicians when they go on the campaign trail are met with too little expectations on the part of voters,'' said Armey. ''We hear it described at times as a personality contest or a beauty contest.''

Armey said it isn't reasonable to expect politicians to duck real issues on the campaign trail, then deal with them after getting elected.

''I don't think we can leave it to them to win the office on superficial criteria and then come to a serious adult awakening after they are in office,'' he said.

Armey said there are shortcomings in both parties on key issues such as fixing Social Security.

''That's clearly the biggest issue of our generation and it's an issue that's plagued by Republicans who don't dare and Democrats who don't care,'' said Armey.

He said the debate goes back to the 1964 presidential election. In that election, Republican Barry Goldwater raised the issue and lost one of the most lopsided presidential elections in history. Since that time, the issue has been described as the third rail of American politics, fatal to anyone who touches it.

''There's not a constructive discussion about it,'' said Armey. ''We have not had a serious adult discussion about Social Security in my adult lifetime. Barry Goldwater tried to get one started in 1964 and he got his head handed to him.''

Armey was meeting Tuesday with leaders of the anti-tax group Iowans for Discounted Taxes.

''My reason for being here is to try to create a constituency of expectations,'' said Armey. ''The first thing you better deal with is where are you going to get the money to fix it?''

Armey said the only solution is ''a massive scaling back'' of the size of government. ''We've got a government that's over-bloated,'' he said.

That problem has grown worse with Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House, he said.