Appealing to Activists, Romney Calls Himself 'Severely Conservative' Mitt Romney faced thousands of conservative activists on Friday and urged them to stand "shoulder to shoulder" with him as he works to oust President Obama from office in November. Mr. Romney received a cordial reception from the audience, which applauded the loudest when he said he would not apologize for believing in capitalism. "I know conservatism because I have lived conservatism," Mr. Romney said to the thousands gathered at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. Mr. Romney has struggled to attract support from the most conservative voters in several presidential nominating contests so far. His efforts to woo those voters fell far short on Tuesday, when Rick Santorum won elections in Colorado, Minnesota and Missouri. But on Friday, Mr. Romney cast himself as a committed conservative who would repeal the president's health care law, stand against abortion rights, shrink government and defend traditional marriage. "I was a severely conservative Republican governor," Mr. Romney said after listing his accomplishments in Massachusetts. I fought against long odds in a deep blue state. In recent days, Mr. Romney has sought to once again highlight his upbringing. Aides say it is not a reaction to the frequency with which Mr. Santorum mentions his humble background. On Friday, Mr. Romney talked with pride about his grandfather and father, both of whom he said grew up poor. Without mentioning them by name, Mr. Romney also took shots at his Republican rivals, especially their experience. "I am the only candidate in this race, Republican or Democrat, who has never worked a day in Washington," Mr. Romney said. I don't have old scores to settle or decades of cloakroom deals that I have to defend. He added: "Leadership as a chief executive isn't about getting a bill out of subcommittee or giving a speech. It's about setting clear goals and overcoming constant adversity. It's about sharing credit when times are good and taking responsibility for failure.