Romney seeks to energize conservative GOP base in Iowa

AMES, Iowa --Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney toured heavily Republican western Iowa on Saturday to fire up voters in what could be a critical battleground region in next month's election.

Romney heads the Republican Governors Association, which views Iowa as perhaps its best chance to pick up a governor's seat held by a Democrat.

He predicts Republican voters in the region will not be soured by a spate of scandals in the GOP-led Congress and unrest with President Bush's foreign policy.

"This is a critical election," Romney said. "A lot of people are concerned about the ongoing conflict in Iraq, but they don't feel we should cut and run, and they don't feel that a change in leadership in their state is merited by what's happening nationally."

The tour is the latest of several recent visits Romney has made to Iowa, which will open the presidential nominating season in 2008. Romney is not seeking another term as governor and is building ties in Iowa while he considers a run at the White House.

Romney opened his day in central Iowa before heading west for events in Council Bluffs, Sioux City and Clear Lake. He was joined by GOP lieutenant governor candidate Bob Vander Plaats, who has close ties to the Republican Party's religious conservative wing.

Romney and other GOP strategists have targeted western Iowa as a key region in the Nov. 7 elections. A sex scandal involving U.S. Rep. Mark Foley and criminal probes that have forced some GOP lawmakers from office are fueling speculation that Democrats could grab control of at least one chamber in Congress.

The mood is crucial in Iowa, where there's a competitive gubernatorial election with Republican Jim Nussle battling Democrat Chet Culver. To win, Nussle will have to generate an enormous turnout of conservatives, many of whom live in the western part of the state.

Those conservative voters weren't energized in 2000, and Democrat Al Gore carried the state. In 2004, GOP strategists prioritized western Iowa voters as President Bush carried the state and won a close race.

Romney said those conservative voters can see through the distractions in this year's campaign.

"I can say that as I come to events across Iowa and across the country that the base is going to go out and vote," said Romney. "I do not think people are going to stay home."

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, doesn't face a competitive election but says he's also working overtime to drive turnout in western Iowa. He noted that Democrats have chosen not to contest many local elections in the region, giving voters fewer reasons to cast ballots.

"That's not a bad strategy," King said.