Romney avoids ObamaCare in speech to conservative activists

But the closest Romney came to talking about healthcare was
a reference to Obama and “liberals” looking to “European solutions” to the
economic crisis. He said those solutions included increased government spending
and moving for a “takeover” of healthcare.

Healthcare is a problem for Romney because the former
Massachusetts governor is remembered for signing that state’s reform bill
requiring residents to purchase health insurance coverage. A similar mandate was
included in Obama’s bill.

The parallels between the two health laws are widely
considered to be one of Romney’s biggest vulnerabilities in a GOP presidential
primary in 2012. Romney is likely to come under heavy attack from other conservative
candidates looking to outflank him from the right.

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa) told The Hill last month:
“It’s just hard for me to see how [Romney] gets past that [in a Republican
primary].”