Paul NelsonChannel 2 News
Mitt Romney sat down with some of Northern Nevada's business leaders in Sparks Friday morning, listening to their concerns about what the future holds for the economy.
Western Nevada Supply is half the size it was four years ago, laying off 250 employees. "How many of those people lost their homes or their cars, aren't able to go out and buy the latest things? It's been very tough," Western Nevada Supply owner, Rick Reviglio said.
"It's been a hard hit," added salesman Greg Coppola. "We've watched a significant amount of our customers just disappear off the planet and, of course, that affects us, too."
The purpose of Friday's discussion was to gain the support of the area's businessmen. "Businesses can handle bad news but what it can't handle is uncertainty," Romney said.
The former Massachusetts Governor also spoke to employees, almost entirely about how he intends to grow companies like this one, saying government needs to loosen up on regulations and get out of the way of business.
"Let businesses get back to building things," Romney said. "Building highways and bridges and schools and homes. We just overwhelm our business with regulations that are unnecessary."
Romney supporters say they like his economic ideals, pointing to his past dealings with his own business, the Salt Lake City Olympics, and his time as governor.
"He has stood in my shoes running a business, making tough decisions, so that that business can survive," Reviglio said.
Reno Mayor Bob Cashell also endorses Romney. "Here's a gentleman that built a business. He's hired thousands of people. He understands some of our problems and he's willing to listen and work. So, I'm really excited about him."
While Romney seems confident in his future, he also knows he still has to win the Republican nomination, and defeat President Obama.
"I will return America to the principles that made us great," Romney said. "I will get America working again and keep us the power house that we are destined to be."
Romney moved his campaign to Southern Nevada Friday night.
Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul also moved their campaigns back down to Southern Nevada.
Friday morning, Gingrich held a rally at a bar on Las Vegas Boulevard, where he continued to emphasize the difference between his policies and Romney's.
"Governor Romney would raise the barrier against them getting a job, increase long-term unemployment because the truth is, I don't think he understands the free market," Gingrich said.
Ron Paul is also down in Las Vegas with two events Friday night. Earlier in the day, he held a rally in Pahrump where he talked about what he thinks led to our current economic woes.
"It's come because this country has lost its total conviction and belief that we ought to have only people represent us in Washington who actually read the Constitution, believe in it and vote that way," Paul said.
Candidate Rick Santorum left the Silver State after last night's event at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa to spend the day campaigning in Missouri. During that stop he was asked about the latest drop in unemployment with 243,000 jobs added in January.
"The employment participation rate is the lowest in 30 years, which means yeah the unemployment rate's coming down, but it's coming down as much because people are leaving the workforce as opposed to joining the work – getting jobs," Santorum said of the fifth straight drop in the jobless rate.
