Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney delivered a message of American strength to voters during a Sunday night visit to Keene.

Before a crowd of about 150 people at the Keene Recreation Center, the former Massachusetts governor spoke of the need for the United States to remain the world's mightiest nation, a task he said depends on Americans combating Muslim jihadists and remaining competitive in a global economy - all while taking the time to eat dinner with their families.

"For me, it's essential that we remain the most powerful land on Earth for there to be peace and prosperity," he said.

As part of this, he spoke about his hopes to expand the military to include additional full-time personnel, update equipment and improve veteran care.

"Number two, I want to strengthen our economy," he said, by keeping down taxes and by capping non-military discretionary spending.

American dependance on foreign oil must also be slashed, he said, through increasing energy efficiency while developing alternative sources ranging from solar, nuclear and wind power to liquefied coal.

Money spent on energy "is going outside of our country ... If we're going to spend that kind of money, we're going to spend it here," he said.

But to make America more energy independent, he said, the government must first fund basic energy research and development.

America must also defeat "global jihadism," he said - not only militarily but by helping Muslims reject "the extreme within them."

Meanwhile, critical to the country's future, according to Romney, is bolstering families - teaching children to get married before having babies and to understand that "marriage between a man and a woman is essential to the strength of a society."

"I believe in a strong America when we stand united," he said later. "I don't believe in John Edwards and this baloney that there are two Americas. There's one America, a united America ... and together we'll make sure this great land remains the hope of the Earth."

Romney spoke less favorably about the United Nations, which he criticized for failing to issue sanctions in response to human rights violations in hot spots such as North Korea and Sudan.

And while he said the United Nations should remain - as a "place (for the world) to come and talk" - he said it's time for the United States to create its own alliances with other free countries.

He also warned against allowing the educational system to be run by the federal government, but defended the much-criticized No Child Left Behind Act as an important mode of testing.

Toward the end of the evening, Romney called himself a candidate who can beat Hillary Clinton. He said fellow Republican Rudy Giuliani cannot.

"I just don't think that we win the White House and we beat Hillary Clinton by acting like (her)," he said. "I believe that on the issues that matter to the people in this country, I'll be able to mark such a very different course from her's that I'll win this election."

Allen N. Clapp, 82, of Jaffrey agreed with Romney that he is "the only Republican candidate that could beat Hillary."

Although Clapp said he came to the forum generally indifferent toward Romney, by the end of the evening, he said he was feeling very strongly about him and said "I think he did a masterful job on every issue imaginable."

In particular, Clapp touted Romney's strong background in the private sector, which he said gives him the capacity to spend wisely.

Cheryl M. Schillemat, 42, an undeclared voter from Nelson, similarly said she agreed with almost everything Romney said.

In particular, she said she liked what he said about strengthening families and his views on education.

But Romney did have some naysayers in a handful of people holding "Flip For Mitt" signs on Washington Street.

"We like consistency in a politician," said Steve W. Lindsey of Keene, while sticking his head through a giant homemade flip-flop sign.

Charging that Romney's views on issues such as abortion and gay rights have changed, Lindsey said, "(He's) the biggest flipper on either end of the political spectrum."


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