Romney makes his first public stop in Nevada

ELKO -- Mitt Romney stressed his conservative credentials Monday in his first public campaign stop in Nevada and, while critical of Washington, D.C., politics and handling of the Iraq war, avoided a direct slap at President Bush.

Two days after his Iowa straw poll win, the Republican presidential hopeful also continued his criticism of Democratic presidential contenders -- especially Hillary Clinton whose campaign stops will include this strongly Republican, rural Nevada community.

Romney, repeating previous comments in other states, compared Clinton's economic plan to that of socialist philosopher Karl Marx. He also joked about Barack Obama's campaign office in Elko, saying he didn't think Democrats were allowed here. Only a quarter of area voters are Democrats.

Obama, who campaigned in Elko last week, and other Democratic contenders are giving the region unprecedented attention because of Nevada's first-ever early caucus. Both Democrats and Republicans plan Jan. 19 caucuses.

Romney stayed on point with his conservative positions on family values, military strength, tax cuts and immigration. His conservatism has prompted opponents from both GOP and Democratic camps to say he's equivocating, given his background as a moderate in a failed 1994 Senate bid and successful 2002 gubernatorial run in Massachusetts.

He also stressed states' rights, telling reporters he backed Nevada's decision decades ago to legalize gambling even though gambling generally isn't something he supports. He also said Nevada, where 87 percent of the land is federally controlled, should have more of a say in how that land is used.

Continued mining, particularly for resources such as coal that can help meet the nation's energy needs, is necessary, Romney added.

A Mormon, Romney also said he believes in the separation of church and state and doesn't think any religion should be promoted over another. He also called for broad efforts to reduce the number of Americans without health insurance.

Romney told reporters the current troop surge in Iraq is "the right course," and he's hopeful that it will succeed. Asked about the possibility of no progress, he said, "I don't want to forecast from failure."

Although he supports a big increase in U.S. troop strength and continued efforts against radical Islamic jihadists, Romney also said he doesn't "see a draft in our future" and also doubts that the new troops he favors would be trained "in the time that Iraq is an active theater."

Romney had harsh words about the way the war has been handled, saying, "We clearly made mistakes with regard to the intelligence that led us to Iraq. We made a number of mistakes following the collapse of Saddam Hussein."

"We are now where we are, and the right course in my view at this stage is to support the troop surge. But I am one of the many who points out that we have not managed highly effectively the effort in Iraq."

There should be more problem-solving and less time "settling political scores" in Washington, D.C., Romney said, adding that the nation's capital is "uniquely unproductive."

Asked how Bush figured in the political turmoil, Romney avoided criticism of the president and said, "Washington needs to change. It's not one party. It's not one person."

On states' rights, Romney said, "I'm someone who believes in the right of the states to set their own courses on important issues."

Romney didn't comment on Nevada's fight against the Bush administration's efforts to open a high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Romney, who changed his position on abortion and now describes himself as "pro-life," also didn't comment on Nevada's voter decision in support of a woman's right to seek an abortion.