(NEWS CENTER) -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is planning stops in Maine Friday and Saturday as the GOP caucuses wrap up. After losing three contests to Rick Santorum this week, a win in Maine's non-binding presidential preference contest becomes more important, if only symbolically.
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In an interview with NEWS CENTER, Romney says "I think I have a natural connection with the people of Maine. Mainers tend to be fiscally conservative, and as governor of a state next door, Massachusetts, they know that I was the guy that balanced the budget all four years and lowered taxes 19 times. So I think I've got a good chance of getting support from our friends in Maine."
When asked what he would do to help Mainers struggling to pay for heating oil, Romney talked about finding more domestic sources of energy. "I'd like to get more natural gas distribution throughout our country. We have enormous resources of natural gas and it's priced well below the price of heating oil."
Romney has ideas for reforming welfare programs. He says "I'd like to take programs like Medicaid, food stamps and housing vouchers and return those programs to the states, along with the federal funding that goes with those programs, and let states create their own programs in the way they feel is best to care for their own poor."
Gov. Romney also wants to build 15 Navy ships per year, instead of just 9, an issue of some importance to Maine because of Bath Iron Works.
Mitt Romney is planning a town hall meeting Friday at 5:15 PM at at the Portland Company Marine Complex at 58 Fore St. And he says he hopes to speak at a couple of caucuses Saturday.