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Gerald Herbert / AP
Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, greets employees at WesternNevada Supply in Sparks, Nev., Friday, Feb. 3, 2012.
By Anjeanette Damon (contact) 
, David McGrath Schwartz
Published Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 | 12:16 p.m.
Updated Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 | 7:44 p.m.
Locals gather for Romney
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KSNV coverage of Mitt Romney campaigning in Henderson, Feb. 2, 2012.
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Sun's complete coverage
In his final campaign swing through Nevada before Republicans caucus on Saturday, Mitt Romney found himself fending off not attacks from his GOP primary opponents but a more nefarious campaign foe: positive economic news.
The reality of horse-race politics is that good news for one campaign is bad for another.
So, as he completed his tour of the Silver State—stopping in Sparks, Elko and finally Henderson —Romney gave about as much acknowledgement to Friday’s good labor market news as he did his GOP rivals.
To praise the lone ray of sunlight that pierced the gloomy economic skies he has spent the campaign trail pointing to would undermine the message he hopes to carry into the general election battle against President Obama.
“It’s good news. I hope it continues,” he told a roundtable of Northern Nevada business leaders referring to the report that the U.S. created jobs at its fastest pace in nine months. But, he said, “the recovery is slower than it should have been.”
Romney later told a crowd of workers at Western Nevada Supply, “I know the president didn’t cause the downturn, the recession. But he didn’t make it much better. In fact, he made it worse.”
By the time Romney made it the parking lot outside a Henderson pizza joint—after taking a jaunt to the Republican-heavy northeastern corner of the state—all he seemed to have left in him for the crowd of about 400 was a 10-minute version of his stump speech.
He even cut short the number of verses he typically recites from “America the Beautiful.”
“I love this country,” he told the cheering crowd. “I love its founding principles. I will do everything in my power to abide by those principles, to restore them, to make America the economic powerhouse it’s always been.”
Before jogging off stage to shake hands, Romney remembered to add: “Go out and caucus tomorrow! Go vote! Get out there.”
As with the crowd in Reno, not everyone at the Henderson rally had made up their mind quite yet, even with the caucus hours away.
“I’m basically trying to make a last minute decision,” said Bryan Lucero, a Henderson Republican. “I don’t want to see a definitive early decision for Romney. I want to see the primary go on a little longer so he’s better prepared for Obama.”
A spokesman for the Democratic Party, who attended Romney’s Henderson speech, countered that Romney offered little hope for an economic turnaround.
What we heard from Mitt Romney tonight is the same pro-Wall Street, anti-middle class agenda that we've come to expect from someone who has spent a lifetime shipping American jobs overseas and whose message to Nevadans losing their homes is that they're on their own,” Zac Petkanas said.
In Sparks, the business leaders, some of the biggest names in Northern Nevada industry, like construction company owner Norm Dianda and developer Perry DiLoreto, talked about their struggling businesses.
DiLoreto said he was concerned about “people tactically walking away from their homes. It’s very disturbing.”
He also said that he believed a leader needs to “change the tone” of politics, which starts in Washington and trickles down to the state and local level. “There’s a level of animosity that exists,” he said. “We need someone to help things settle down.”
Romney, in his short stump speech to workers, did not mention his GOP opponents, instead he maintained his general election stance.
He offered some conservative red meat - he wants to repeal the Dodd-Frank bank regulations and complained about “Obamacare” and appointments to the National Labor Relations Board.
Romney also said he learned how to work with Democrats as Massachusetts governor, where, he said 85 percent of the Legislature was Democratic. “I learned to work with both Republicans and Democrats,” he said.
Reno Mayor Bob Cashell, during the roundtable, said Romney was the only presidential candidate to call after the Reno Air Race crash. He said he was pleased “when I picked up my cell phone and it was a call from you.”
dodd frank help people
and he wants to repeal it?
then you all in NEV should get even more foreclosures.
Romney treats his family dog like sh*t and says he doesn't care about poor people. Acts and sounds just like a typical Republican! LOL
Now, wait a minute, isn't Romney the guy who said he'd do nothing about housing woes in Las Vegas and elsewhere?
Comment removed by moderator. Off Topic
The SuperPac that supports Romney, "Restore Our Future" received $14,825,000 out of a total $17,947,953 from only 58 donors!
These SuperPac participants look at donations as investments, because if their 'man' gets elected those donations will be returned 100 fold. Favored tax laws, no-bid contracts, insider information - investing in an election and winning creates much more personal wealth then starting a business.
All these 58 people need is to move Obama out of the way and the treasure trove of the Government wealth opens to their disposal. "Open Says Me", such magic words to the Victors.
mr. romney should be blaming republican obstructionism for the slow recovery. they've done nothing but block progress for the past 3 years.
The political fortunes are tied the financial support and vice-versa. The plutocrats have us middle class heathens by the short hairs.
My favorite take on this is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2pAfJy1l...
where the road not taken lies ahead beckoning for a restoration of freedom and justice for ALL.
There were great presidents who were not businessmen and even failures at business (Lincoln for example). And, by the way, some of these greats were career politicians (both Roosevelts). And then there were presidents who are considered failures but who were very successful businessmen; remember Jimmy Carter? He even produced something --peanuts, unlike Romney who produced nothing. The business experience thing is a ruse in my opinion- whether big business or small. That's not a skill that necessarily translates well into presidential politics. Reagan, the current God of the Republican party, went from radio to movies to politics. Not exactly a big time business guy. It's a ruse.
RE 2way10. Astute comment. Reagan couldn't be elected anything in today's political climate. Romney is far removed from the issues facing Nevadans, but he will win the GOP caucus here because the GOP loons caucusing Saturday are totally out of touch with what is going on in their own state.
This is my take on the GOP candidates for President. Santorum is a conservative who is a lawyer and has been a legislator, but he has no business experience. He does not know how the economy works. Paul is a conservative too whose libertarian views on drugs and Iran are dangerous. I drugs are legalized there is no way to keep our young people who think they are invincible from using them and destroying their brain cells. Brain cells that they will need to prosper and govern wisely in years to come. Our drug war is a national security issue. As for his foreign policy of minding our own business, we cannot let madmen who believe not only that God welcomes all martyrs but, who also believe that they are called by God to hasten the end times so that the 12th Iman will return and rule a world Islamic Caliphate have a nuclear bomb. And, then there is Newt.Newt's true baggage is his ability to brilliantly defend both sides of an issue w/o compunction & his willingness to use class warfare,half truths & innuendo as political weapons. The Speaker is a divisive figure and would not bring harmony and good will to Washington's incompetence. America needs to work together and his scorched earth policy when he is losing is telling. His attack on Romney regarding religious bigotry crossed the line. We have had enough of the drama and uncertainty in Washington. We need a uniter not a divider. Romney has proven he knows how to work well with others. I want our country governed as a successful business. I expect Governor Romney to treat our government as a failed business,cut the waste, get it to working in a fiscally sound way and provide good service to all Americans. I voted for the Investment Capitalist today and I urge the rest of America to do the same.
I am completely unimpressed that someone with business experience may be running for president. Business and politics are two different animals and if someone is touting their business experience as a reason to have them as president it just shows me how blind they are.
Romney of all people should know that a business has one purpose: to generate a profit. A business is judged and is successful if it makes a profit. Although businesses may have a board and people to weigh in on decisions they all know they are there to make a profit. Plus any issue can be forced by majority share owners. I don't know of any businesses that are democracies, mine certainly isn't. It's very straightforward.
The purpose of the government is NOT to make a profit. It is NOT judged as to whether it is profitable but how well it manages a country and cares for its citizens. The government is there to provide services to enable the country to run smoothly, protect its citizens and provide an environment where all citizens have the potential to be happy and thrive. What it takes to be president won't necessarily be found in someone who can run a business. The skills are very different and it shows serious ignorance to think otherwise. This business thing is a ruse and not enough people are calling it. Don't forget, our last Harvard Business School educated and CEO President was the one who got us into the great recession. A lot of good his business experience did for us.
ressince73, If you think Romney is out of touch try getting a straight answer from Harry Reid.
As for the rest of your post..... whatever, calling people loons is a great way to get your point across.
Obama is not a leader. He is Harry's little minion. I find it extremely shortsighted of the left to discount Romney. He helped saved the Olympics that were held in Utah and wasn't just "community organizing"
Since I am on a roll with Harry. Don't you find it ironic that the same partisan tactics he used against the Republicans when they were in power are now being used against him.
It's called politics... get over it.
You can say anything. Where is the data and who provided it? If he's just stating an opinion then statements like that should be accompanied by a disclaimer. It's impossible to know with any degree of certainty the outcome if the President did something slightly different with so many variables.
<<So, as he completed his tour of the Silver State--stopping in Sparks, Elko and finally Henderson>>
Well, those places were a good cross-section of the State (said facetiously). What about North Las Vegas? Summerlin? Or just a random middle class neighborhood in Las Vegas proper? Probably wouldn't have been able to handle how a lot of Nevadans live. And no excuses that time was a factor; he had plenty of it, unlike the President where his schedule is way more important then Romney's.
Elections??? Lets not forget they are both, Romney and Trump, part of the 1%. He is not good for Nevada, or any other state. Also, what safety net did Romney refered to when talking about the poor, and that he will fix it if it needed fixing? Are Social Security, Medicare, Food Stamps, Unemployment Insurance part of it? Are these not the programs in the safety net he wants to eliminate? He keeps forgeting he is not talking to his 1% friends but, to the 99%, the grunts!!! Always talking in general terms and no details, great speaker. Who is he trying to fool? He keeps playing all the bases at the same time! Imagine if he were to be President, he'll be going back a forth in all the issues, and that is dangerous for the country!!! He is a wolf disgused as a sheep!!!