WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney portrayed his life as an embodiment of conservative values in action Friday as he courted a gathering of activists dotted with skeptical supporters of his Republican rivals.

But his own partisan were well represented in the audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference. The sustained applause he drew at several points easily matched or exceeded the reception his rival Rick Santorum, had received from the same crowd a few hours earlier.

Mr. Romney didn't mention any of his competitors for the nomination by name, but he took several opportunities to suggest that they had gone Washington in becoming parts of the Capitol establishment they once pledged to confront.

"I happen to be the only candidate in this race, Republican or Democratic, who has
never worked a day in Washington,'' he said.

In a shot at Mr. Santorum and former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Mr. Romney questioned the post-Congressional choices of politicians who claim, "They hated Washington so much they just could't leave.''

"I will change washington D.C. and then I will leave Washington and go back home to my community that I love,'' he said.

But most of his speech to the activists was a defense of his own record and an assertion that despite criticism of his evolving positions on social issues, his life had been a practical example of the principles they advocate

Describing his life as the son of auto executive and Republican governor George Romney, his business career and his 42-year marriage, he said, "These conservative constants have shaped my life.''

"I spent 25 years balancing budget eliminating waste, and by the way keeping as far away form go government as humanly possible,'' he said, referring to the business career that has been criticized by Mr. Gingrich among others.

And he received one of his louder rounds of applause as he noted of his business record, "And I'm not ashamed to say I was successful doing it.''

Mr. Romney's record as governor of Massachusetts, with it, his signing of a mandatory health care law is the root of much of the conservative unease about mr. Romney. he didn't mention the health care law, which Mr. Santorum had sharply criticized before the same group, but he did argue that his record showed him to be a guardian of the right.

"As governor, I defended conservatism in the most liberal state in the nation,'' he said.

"I was fighting against long odds in a deep blue state but I was a severely conservative Republican governor,'' he continued, citing his opposition to gay marriage and his support for Catholic adoption agencies refusal to place orphans with gay couples.

Another day, another union endorsement for Mark Critz in his Democratic primary bid against Jason Altmire in the new 12th congressional district

This one is from the Intl Assoc. of Fire Fighters.

Full campaign statement after the jump:

WASHINGTON -- "A conservative and a moderate and a liberal walk into a bar. The bartender says, 'Hello Mitt!' ''

That was Rick Santorum's introduction from his SuperPAC patron, Foster Friess.

Following him to the stage of the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, the former senate never mentioned Mr. Romney by name, but his remarks made the same point. Mr. Santorum reprised his argument that Mr. Romney would be a flawed general election candidate because he would not be able to present sharp contrasts with President Obama on issues from health care to the environment.

Mr. Santorum received a warm, if not tumultuous reception from the crowded ballroom. Flanked by his wife, Karen, and five of their children, he said that The Affordable Health care Act, "Obamacare,'' to Mr. Santorum and other Republicans, represents not just bad policy, but a threat to liberty.

"When government gives you rights, government can take away those rights,'' he said. "Obamacare will crush economic freedom. As a result government will own you.''

Referring to the controversial policy on contraception coverage that White House was backing down on even as he spoke, M.r Santorum said, "He's now telling the Catholic church that they are forced to pay for things that are against their tenets and teachings,'' he said. "This is not about contraception. It is about economic liberty ... it's about government control of your lives and it's got to stop.''

Turning to the Republican candidate he had bested in GOP contests in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado Tuesday, he contended that Mr. Romney would have a hard time making the same case.
"Who has supported the stepchild of Obamacare,'' he demanded, referring to the Massachusetts health care law signed by the former governor.

Mr. Santorum was the first of three GOP candidates who would address the Republican gathering Friday. Mr. Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich would follow him to the podium later. Texas Rep. Ron Paul, the winner of the CPAC straw poll for two years running, decided to skip this year's event, although his son, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, addressed the group Thursday.

No surprise here, but for the record:

Freshman US Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, made his reelection run official today. No other Republicans are in the race, but PSU professor Missa Eaton is among those challenging him on the Democratic side. (An exact list should be available next week when petitions are due.)

Kelly had $242,610 in cash at the end of the year.

Full Kelly camp statement below: