Ann Romney says husband is the man to fix the nation

RENO — In a brief campaign speech Thursday, Ann Romney described her husband as a caring and dedicated man who, if elected president in November, can fix the nation’s problems.“The thing I know about Mitt is he does not fail,” she told more than 500 supporters who turned out at Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater at Bartley Ranch Regional Park.Romney pointed to the Republican presidential nominee’s record of accomplishments as well as his personal commitment to people and the things he believes in, adding, “This is how you live your life. You don’t talk. You go and do.”She added that Nevada, one of several swing states, is vital to victory, saying, “We have to win this state. We will win this state.”Washoe County has become a battleground within the battleground of Nevada because it traditionally sides with Republicans but has seen Democratic registration on the rise in recent years. In 2008, President Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Washoe County since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. The county, once heavily Republican, has only a small GOP voter registration edge now.Both candidates have made numerous visits to Nevada, mostly Las Vegas — which is staunchly Democratic — but also in the north. President Obama plans to return to Las Vegas on Sunday and first lady Michelle Obama travels to Reno on Wednesday.Ann Romney started her speech by saying Obama has failed to deliver on his promises and the nation has to make a change, adding, “We can’t have four more years. It’s time to fire the coach.”For the next 40 days until the election, she said, her husband is “fighting Obama” and intends to win the election and repair the nation and its economy.Romney was introduced by Heidi Gansert, former chief of staff to Gov. Brian Sandoval and former leader of the Nevada Assembly Republican caucus. She spoke for just over 12 minutes to supporters fanning themselves in the hot sun with Romney/Ryan fans put together Wednesday evening by volunteers at the park.She will be followed to Reno today by her son, Craig, David Espinoza and former U.S. Treasurer Rosario Marin, who plan to discuss Romney’s plans to strengthen small businesses and the middle class.•The Associated Press contributed to this report.