Presidential leadership "isn't about getting a bill out of subcommittee or giving a speech," he said. "I am the only candidate in this race, Republican or Democrat, who has never worked a day in Washington."

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His remarks appeared aimed at former Pennsylvania Sen. Santorum, former House speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Ron Paul, all of whom spent years in Congress.

Gingrich was scheduled to address CPAC later Friday. Paul was not scheduled to address the conference.

Romney tried to reassure the audience that antipathy to Obama will energize millions of voters this fall, an indirect way of saying the lukewarm reception he gets from some conservatives isn't crucial.

Obama "is the conservative movement's top recruiter," he said.

Romney said he would cut federal spending like he cut state spending in Massachusetts, although he vowed not to touch military budgets.

"I was a conservative governor," he said. "I fought against long odds in a deep blue state. I understand the battles that we, as conservatives, must fight because I have been on the front lines."

Santorum and Romney criticized the Obama administration's bid to require Catholic-affiliated employers to cover birth control in their health insurance plans.

After Santorum's morning speech and before Romney's afternoon address, Obama announced an update.

He said religious-affiliated employers will not have to cover birth control for their employees. Instead, the government will demand that insurance companies be directly responsible for providing contraception.

Santorum, a Catholic with a strong record of fighting legalized abortion, said Obama is "telling the Catholic Church that they are forced to pay for things that are against their basic tenets and teachings."

"It's not about contraception, it's about economic liberty," he said.

Romney, a Mormon who once supported legalized abortion, vowed to reverse "every single Obama regulation that attacks our religious liberty and threatens innocent life."

His critics cite a 2005 interview in which Romney said rape victims deserved either access to or information about so-called morning after pills that some say are a form of abortion.

Both men restated their standard criticisms of Obama. Romney called him "the poster child for the arrogance of government."