Romney, in Boulder City, roots for McCain, Palin and Porter

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigned for Rep. Jon Porter and the Republican presidential ticket this afternoon in Boulder City.

The onetime presidential candidate, who won Nevada’s Republican caucus in a landslide, received a standing ovation from a crowd of about 150 people gathered at the town’s high school theater. “I know a lot of you were hoping I would be at the top of the ticket,” Romney said, interrupted by applause. “But I know when my time on the stage is over.”

(He told an anecdote about mistaking himself as the object of tourists’ attention during a women’s volleyball game he and his wife attended at the Beijing Olympics. Turns out the cameras were really flashing at basketball star Kobe Bryant, who was sitting behind the couple, he said.)

Besides a passing reference to Porter, Romney devoted his short remarks to attacking Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, reprising a line from his failed bid: “If we take a sharp turn to the left, we will be less strong, less free and less able to defend ourselves.”

He criticized Obama for saying he would meet with hostile leaders, such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, without “preconditions,” and said unlike Obama, McCain would bring troops home from Iraq “in victory.”

Romney also hit Obama on his tax policy, saying the Democrat would raise taxes on citizens and businesses. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center however has concluded that 95 percent of families with children would get a tax break under Obama’s plan, significantly more than under McCain, although the ongoing rescue of struggling banks and financial institutions could make any new spending or tax cuts impossible.

On energy, Romney attacked Obama for his opposition to offshore drilling, nuclear power and so-called “clean coal.” Obama has said he would consider limited offshore drilling as part of a larger energy bill that includes investments in renewable energy. He has also proposed a second round of stimulus packages providing tax relief to Americans in the short term. As for nuclear and coal, Obama has expressed reservations about their production on environmental grounds. He supports them as potential alternatives if technologies making their production safe are perfected.

On health care, Romney said McCain would award families a $5,000 tax credit to purchase insurance on the private market whereas Obama would preside over a “government takeover” of the country’s health care system.

Afterward, Romney praised Porter for his support of the failed financial bailout plan in the House Monday, calling the vote “courageous.” “It’s not politically popular but it’s the right thing, and I believe that the American people, with more time and inspection of the need for economic stabilization will recognize this is the right thing,” he said.

Romney has stumped for Republicans in Idaho and New Mexico this week. He was set to appear at a pre-debate rally in Elko tonight.

“Expectations are extremely low for Sarah Palin,” Romney said. “I’ve had the chance now to see more excerpts of her in Alaska in debates. She’s a pretty good debater, a darn good debater. I would not be surprised to see tonight’s debate change the whole dynamic of the presidential campaign and give the McCain team a real boost.”