Before a crowd of about 400 at a noontime rally, he delivered a 15-minute stump speech – devoid of anything he hasn't said before.
But the crowd was enthusiastic, frequently interrupting the candidate with applause as he outlined his ideas and criticized President Obama.
"This president's run out of ideas. And he's running out of excuses. And in 2012, you know, he's run out of time," he said.
Most of his speech was devoted to economics, and his pledge to turn around the nation's economy. He slashed at Obama for failing to improve the economy.
"This president has failed the American people," Romney said, pledging "to get America working again."
He said he'd balance the federal budget, calling it immoral to spend more than the country takes in.
Some of the loudest cheers came when Romney said the first program he'd get rid of as president would be the healthcare overhaul law Republicans refer to as Obamacare.
He said he'd cut smaller programs too, including arts and humanities funding. He said he's a fan of public television but programs like "Sesame Street" would have to survive with advertising. "I'm afraid Big Bird is going to have to get used to Kellogg's Corn Flakes," he said.
He also pledged to strengthen the nation's military, to support allies such as Israel, and to deal with the threat from Iran possessing a nuclear weapon, which he called "the greatest threat that we face globally over the next decade."
The former Massachusetts governor struck familiar themes, pledging to cut the deficit, abolish the health care law and restore American prosperity. He made no mention of his rivals in the Republican presidential primary.
"The president, it seems, wants to make us more like a European-style welfare state," Romney said, bringing the loudest boos of the midday event, which brought several hundred people to the Palm Beach County Convention Center. "I don't want to transform America, I want to restore to America the principles that have made us the hope of the earth."
The crowd, at times, chanted "Mitt! Mitt! Mitt!"
Romney is coming off victories in the Iowa caucuses, where he narrowly defeated former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, and the New Hampshire primary.
Romney spoke before a large "Florida is Romney Country" banner, and polls show that may be true, with him ahead of competitors as the Jan. 31 primary approaches. Sid Dinerstein, chairman of the Republican Party of Palm Beach County, said Romney is also far ahead in organizing in the state, airing commercials, garnering volunteers and sending mailers.
"He's going to outspend the other guys, he may outspend them all put together," said Dinerstein, who is remaining neutral in the primary. "It's going to be the smackdown between Newt and Mitt, but Newt will be the underdog," he said, referring to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who was also in the state for events Thursday and Friday.
Romney was to appear Thursday night at a fundraiser at the Palm Beach home of Miami Dolphins owner Steven Ross. He was introduced at the afternoon event by state Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, who urged those gathered to vote early by absentee ballot.
Atwater also said, "Your governor wishes he could be with you today," though Gov. Rick Scott has not yet made any endorsement in the race.
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