Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, center right, talks with party loyalists at the Douglas County Republican Party headquarters Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011 in Minden, Nev. Romney was in northern Nevada to seek support for her husband. (AP Photo/Sandra Chereb)
MINDEN - Ann Romney told Douglas County Republicans on Wednesday that her husband, Mitt, is the most-qualified presidential candidate - and the only one who can win the presidency next year.
"Only one person is out there who is running who will beat Obama, and that's my husband," she told the audience of about 20 at GOP headquarters in Minden.
She described next year's ballot as "a watershed election."
But in a Gallup poll released Wednesday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry led Romney, the previous frontrunner, 29 percent to 17 percent. Texas Rep. Ron Paul finished third in the poll, with 13 percent support, followed by Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota with 10 percent.
Romney also touted her husband's experience, not only in politics but as a successful businessman, saying his ability to understand finance is critical.
"People who are life-long politicians, bless their hearts, don't necessarily understand a balance sheet," she said.
Mrs. Romney reminded the audience that his profession was fixing broken companies.
"He would take struggling companies and come in and turn them around," she said. "If there is any time when this country needs a turn-around, it's now. He's been preparing his whole life for this."
She was joined by Dema Guinn, widow of the late Gov. Kenny Guinn, who said they and the Romneys have known each other since Guinn headed Nevada state government, Romney was governor of Massachusetts and the two were co-chairmen of the Republican Governors Association.
"We have to have some one who goes in and understands the business," Guinn said. "But Mrs. Romney said it's her husband's character that best suits him for the office.
"He has that deep, deep resolve within himself who chooses the right way all the time," she said.
After his last attempt to win the GOP nomination for president, she said, she "made sure to tell everyone I could we will never do this again. It's much too hard."
"But I said that after every pregnancy, too, and we have five boys, so I've changed my mind a few times," Mrs. Romney quipped.
She followed the stop in Douglas County on Wednesday with a similar midday appearance in Reno.
