AIKEN - Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has not officially declared his candidacy for the presidency, but his travel itinerary certainly resembles that of a White House candidate.

Mr. Romney, who was in Iowa this weekend, spoke Monday to a standing-room-only crowd of members and guests at the Rotary Club of Aiken meeting.

Mr. Romney, who spent 25 years in the private sector, said government should follow a business model in which leaders are held accountable for their actions.

"Government's very forgiving. You just raise taxes on people, or you blame the other party," he said.

Mr. Romney, who said he inherited a $3 billion deficit when he became governor of Massachusetts, said he balanced the state budget without raising taxes or increasing debt. Instead, he eliminated waste, inefficiency and duplicate services, he said.

Mr. Romney said the country's greatest challenges are jihadists, economic competition with Asia, excessive spending and the need for energy independence. He said the people of the United States are its greatest strength.

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said Mr. Romney would reach across the aisle to tackle the nation's problems.

"He understands the strengths of this country and the real threats," he said.

Barry Brooks, a guest at the Rotary Club, said he was impressed by the former governor's approach to the issues.

"First impressions are that Gov. Romney is a very sincere and truthful individual, which is unlike many politicians that you meet," he said.

Robert Newburn, the Rotary Club president, said Mr. Romney's appearance was not an endorsement by the club. He also said Mr. Romney is the second presidential hopeful to visit the club since South Carolina's Republican primary began 27 years ago. Ronald Reagan spoke to the group in 1980, he said.