Mitt Romney made a campaign stop in Arizona on Monday as the state prepares to vote in a Republican presidential primary at the end of the month. Romney took the opportunity to blast President Barack Obama’s new budget proposal.
“You know the president came out with a new budget today,” he said to boos from the crowd of 2,500 at the Mesa Amphitheatre. “You have reason for that response. He unfortunately came out with another trillion-dollar deficit.”
Romney said the president’s $3.8 trillion spending plan did not ensure the long-term solvency of Medicare and Social Security. Obama “is slowly but surely turning us into a European-style welfare state,” he said.
He also criticized President Obama’s plan to cut military spending.
“My vision is very different. I want take our shipbuilding from nine a year to 15 year. I want to get new aircraft for our Air Force. I want to add 100,000 troops to our military,” Romney said.
The former Massachusetts governor did not mention presidential rivals Rick Santorum or Newt Gingrich by name in his campaign speech, instead touting his business experience outside of Washington, D.C.
Arizona Republicans will join Michigan in the nation’s next round of primaries. Election Day is Feb. 28.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.