Romney said a revamped energy policy to combine the continent's interests would create 3 million jobs in the United States through the Keystone Pipeline and through more drilling, especially in Alaska and off-shore sites of Virginia and the Carolinas. The Keystone Pipeline's starting point would be in Alberta, Canada, just one reason for an approach that would include America's neighbors to the north and south, he said.
In addition, by tightening its bonds with Mexico and Canada, the United States would not have to buy oil from hostile foreign powers, Romney said.
Soon after Romney finished his 24-minute speech, the Obama campaign team denounced his plan as vague and no more than an industry blueprint for the economic interests of Big Oil.
Federico Pena, who for two years was energy secretary under President Clinton, said Romney ignored important facts that demonstrate how successful and diversified America's energy program had become since Obama took office.
The United States is producing the most natural gas in its history and the most oil in 14 years, Pena said in a conference call with reporters.
Just as important, Pena said, the Obama energy plan is diversified and aggressive, having tapped into millions of oil-rich
acres in the Gulf of Mexico."The fact is, the president's programs are working," Pena said.
Another member of Obama's campaign team, Joseph Aldy, an assistant professor at Harvard, said U.S. oil rigs are drilling at greater than three times the peak rate of President George W. Bush's administration.
But Romney told the crowd in Hobbs that Obama's energy program was marked by cronyism and political misdeeds.
Romney said he would dismantle an Obama program in which taxpayers' money is used to invest in alternative energy companies. Instead, Romney said, he would spend tax dollars only on technology and research.
"I don't want government investing in companies, particularly the companies of his campaign contributors," Romney said in his most pointed jab at the president.
Romney criticized Obama's administration for spending $90 billion in "so-called green jobs" while gas prices approached $4 a gallon.
Romney spent most of his time on energy policies, but in his stump speech he also talked about his other four points for economic recovery.
He said the nation must create "world-class schools," improve trade, reduce government spending and champion small businesses, notably by repealing Obama's healthcare law.
Romney did not provide details on any of these programs, but he said the great worry is America becoming another Greece a nation that has spent itself into decline.
Romney said that, if he is elected and implements the totality of his program, "this economy is going to come roaring back."
He tailored some of his remarks to hometown oil companies of the Permian Basin, pledging to make it faster to obtain drilling permits for federal lands.
He said he would accomplish this by giving states power over the permit process, though it still would be subject to federal approval.
Romney said North Dakota turns around drilling permits for state or private lands in 10 days and Colorado does it in 27 days. But a permit for federal lands takes 307 days from application to approval, he said.
Later, the Obama team said a hodgepodge of dozens of different state regulations would hurt oil and gas companies, not help them explore or put people to work.
Romney delivered his speech in a lot at Watson Truck & Supply, an oilfield business started by a family in 1943. He said it was the kind of risk-taking company that still inspires Americans.
Many in the crowd said Romney had inspired them.
Justine Bearden, 26, of Hobbs did not vote in the presidential election four years ago. But this time, he said, he will cast his ballot for Romney.
"I like his stance on energy. That's what keeps us going," said Bearden, an electrician.
Gerrid Bowen traveled from Odessa, Texas, to Hobbs to hear Romney. He said he was impressed with Romney's ideas and with his background.
"We need a change," Bowen said. "He's got some answers for our country, and I believe he's a decent person, a godly man."
Tieless in a light, striped shirt and seemingly unhurried, Romney stayed for half and hour to shake hands and sign autographs with dozens who had come to hear him. He even took time to pose for pictures with the Hobbs High School Marching Band before heading off to a private fundraiser.
Critics of Romney from the group 350.org Action Fund awaited him at the Lea County convention hall.
The organization's executive director, May Boeve, later said she found nothing to like about Romney's energy plan.
"With more than half the country in drought and huge areas of the West still recovering from historic wildfires, Governor Romney's "more carbon, more climate change' energy plan adds insult to injury," Boeve said.
But many folks in Hobbs, including a number who were visiting just to get a glimpse of Romney, disagreed.
Marion Lewis said the chance to hear Romney was well worth the five-hour drive from her home in Santa Fe.
"Governor Romney inspires me. I like his capitalist values and his core values," she said.
Milan Simonich, Santa Fe Bureau chief of Texas-New Mexico Newspapers, can be reached at msimonich@tnmnp.com or 505-820-6898. His blog is at nmcapitolreport.com
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