Sioux Center, IA–

The Romneys made their second stop on the “Strong America” bus tour at Casey’s Bakery here. They spoke to a small crowd of voters in this very conservative part of the state. The Romneys stuck to their new “closing arguments” stump and the former frontrunner here stayed away from attacking his rival Mike Huckabee, leaving that to the new ad launched today.

Romney did mention Pakistan in light of Former Prime Minister Bhutto’s assassination:

“There’s a new challenge of national security. It’s a challenge which involves an asymmetric foe, radical violent jihadists who just apparently carried out an attack, a murder in Pakistan, who have their tentacles throughout the world and are trying to bring down all moderate nations.”

He also spoke about change and innovation in the future in America and the big job that the next President will have in store for him:

“I think you’re going to see more change in the next 10 years than we’ve probably seen over the last 10 centuries. And so the next president is going to have to be able to draw on the strength of the American people and lift their eyes and optimism towards the opportunities we have and overcome the challenges honestly that we face, and at the same time draw on the innovative spirit in a nation and a world that’s changing.”

The presidential hopeful has made his stump much shorter today and hasn’t been taking questions. This is rare for a Romney campaign stop, but this allows the camp to control their message and preserve the on/off moving feel of the bus tour.

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