“We can’t look backward,” he said. “We have to look for new opportunities in a changing world.”

The former Massachusetts governor cited Michigan as an example of manufacturing growth in the U.S., but avoided talking of the auto industry bailouts he opposed several years ago.

Gov. Rick Snyder introduced Romney, saying he would provide the right leadership in Washington to launch regrowth in the economy similar to the way Michigan has rebounded.

“We’re the comeback state in the United States today,” Snyder said.

Dart Auditorium was filled to capacity with people anticipating Romney’s speech, and many hopeful attendees, including Eaton Rapids resident Betty Merrow, were turned away at the door.

Merrow, 79, instead stood outside with other Romney supporters waving signs and American flags at drivers to get their attention.

She said Romney is a family man and will show people how to get back to work, and his ties to Michigan will help advance the state if he is elected president.

“I feel like I personally know Mitt and his family because his (father) is from here,” she said.

Romney spoke of memories from his time in Michigan and referenced the closing of the Oldsmobile factory in Lansing, saying it was a shame the factory had to shut its doors and leave many workers unemployed.

But his talk about growth in Michigan was not received as well across the street, where protesters from the UAW stood holding a banner that read “Mitt Romney said: ‘Let Detroit go bankrupt.’”

Romney opposed Obama’s decision to bail out the auto industry in 2009, leaving many Michigan residents unsure about Romney’s ties to helping the state.

Lansing resident Maggie Bayers stood with the group in opposition to Romney’s speech, saying despite Romney’s stated allegiance to the middle class, he was willing to let many manufacturing jobs go just to prevent government intervention.

“He’s not like us,” she said. “He can’t be. He’s a whole different class.”

Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, also said Romney has not made the auto industry a priority for middle class growth the way Obama has. She also said for all of Romney’s talk about securing the country’s future for youth, he has not committed to helping college-age students secure Pell Grants or other financial aid.

Romney’s speech also had little substance other than to cite “obtuse arguments” against the Obama administration, she said.

Snyder’s introduction of Romney likely did little to quell rumors that he might become Romney’s vice presidential nominee, after Florida blogger Chris Ingram suggested the idea last week.

Ingram wrote that Snyder’s hotel assignment is in the second-best location in Tampa for the Republican National Convention and might be evidence for Snyder’s possibility as a running mate.

Neither Romney nor Snyder mentioned the rumors at all, but Snyder previously has said he is happy at work reinventing Michigan.