PORTSMOUTH — Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made a campaign swing through Hampton Roads Thursday, getting support from Gov. Bob McDonnell and a key endorsement from U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, a tea party favorite. It was Romney's first visit to the region during the 2012 campaign.
Speaking at Crofton Industries, a family-owned maritime services company, Romney slammed the Obama administration's energy policies and pledged to invest heavily in defense spending. Romney said he would increase the number of active duty personnel in the military by 100,000 and would increase the number of ships built for the Navy each year to 15.
"Our troops are stretched to the limit," Romney said. "Yet this president wants to reduce our number of active-duty personnel, reduce our shipbuilding, reduce our purchase of aircraft."
Another 100,000 active duty troops would represent a 7 percent increase in the size of the active-duty force. Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said 100,000 additional troops would cost $20 billion to $35 billion annually.
With a heavy military presence and Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding, Hampton Roads could factor prominently in any defense increases — and provides a receptive audience for military and shipbuilding promises.
U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes, R-Chesapeake, in a phone interview, applauded Romney's goal, and said the Navy's shipbuilding program is currently moving in the wrong direction, away from more shipbuilding.
"The secretary of the Navy has said all they need is 285 ships, and they could be down in the 240 range," Forbes said. Meanwhile, he added, "countries like China are increasing their ship production."
"I think what we need to do is turn that curve up," he said, but added that it would be difficult to get to 15 ships a year immediately.
"Whether we hit 15 (ships) or hit 13 and then move to 15, I'm delighted we're looking at starting to move the curve." Forbes did not attend Romney's rally.
U.S. Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News, said Romney's plans were unrealistic.
"It's one thing to show up to Hampton Roads, an area proud of its military and shipbuilding heritage, and make lofty promises, but it's another thing when your promises are not supported by any real substance," Scott said in a statement emailed to the Daily Press. Scott questioned how Romney could pay for the ships "when he's promising to cut trillions of dollars in taxes at the same time."
Romney also used the event to push for off-shore oil drilling. Bob Crofton, a co-owner of Crofton Industries, has said the company could benefit from any energy exploration off the coast. The Obama administration imposed a moratorium on off-shore drilling on the East Coast after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010.
"Right here in Virginia, the idea that you have powerful energy right off your coast, that you could be creating good jobs right here in Virginia…that's been lost by a president who said no," Romney said.
Bachmann announced her support for Romney Thursday months after dropping her own presidential bid in January.
"This is what victory looks like," Bachmann told the crowd of supporters. Bachmann mentioned that she, Romney and McDonnell held something in common. "We're all parents of five children," she said.
McDonnell has been frequently mentioned as a possible vice-presidential candidate for the November ticket. He spent much of his address delivering campaign-style attack lines.
"You're going to see a sea-change in our support for the military and veterans with President Mitt Romney," he said. "Remember three and a half years ago we heard that tune about hope and change? And now what do we have?" McDonnell said. "We have recession, division and malaise."
Afterward, while shaking hands with supporters, McDonnell was coy about any VP ambitions.
"You know I haven't given it any thought," he said.
President Barack Obama is scheduled to kick off his re-election campaign with a rally Saturday at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
