GOFFSTOWN — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addressed an enthusiastic crowd at St. Anselm College on Monday morning alongside running mate Paul Ryan, slamming President Barack Obama's performance and vowing to restore the shining city on the hill.

Romney said he would “get off the track President Obama has put us on,” and allow the economy to come roaring back.

“We can't go on the way we're going on, or we'll end up being Greece,” warned the presumptive Republican nominee.

The former Massachusetts governor addressed the crowd under a bright sun, a campaign banner affixed to Alumni Hall. The event signified the duo's debut in the Granite State.

Romney served up promises on reducing the nation's debt and deficit.

“I want to make sure that everyone in America who wants a job will get a good job,” he said.

“I want to make sure that everyone who's thinking about retiring ... knows that they'll have a secure retirement.”

He cited a five-part plan to jump-start the economy, including taking advantage of domestic energy resources, improving the education system, opening up trade in regions such as Latin America, ending deficit spending, and making sure “regulators and regulations are designed to make sure that we encourage small business.”

President's Obama signature legislation — the Affordable Care Act — Romney said, would be one of the first cuts he would make.

Romney — who along with Ryan signed an anti-tax pledge from Grover Norquist — vowed anew not to increase taxes, at the same time assuring that America's military would be “second to none.”

“It's essential that America is strong,” he said.

During the question-and-answer section of what the campaign said was Romney's 100th town hall meeting in the state, a St. Anselm student asked what Romney would do to alleviate student debt.

“I'm not going to promise all sorts of free stuff that I know you're going to end up paying for,” he said. “What I want to do is give you a great job so you'll be able to pay back your stuff.”

Asked by a pro-Romney veteran what he would do about “this damn mess in Afghanistan,” Romney said he would work to pull the troops out and transition security responsibility to the Afghan army.

Ryan accused Obama of politicizing the war.

Ryan, a member of the U.S. House who is also up for re-election in Wisconsin's 1st District in November, attacked the President's stance on Medicare.

“We want this debate, we need this debate, and we are going to win this debate about Medicare,” Ryan said.

Ryan — who advocates adding a privatization option to Medicare coverage through a voucher program — accused Obama of failing to preserve Medicare for current seniors.

“I think the future of getting Medicare is to let 50 million seniors decide how they get their health care instead of relegating that decision to 15 unelected bureaucrats,” he said to a cheering crowd.

Ryan also highlighted Romney's economic record versus the President's.

“Look at the record of this man — the credit rating was upgraded when he was governor of Massachusetts,” he said. “The (U.S.) credit rating was downgraded under President Obama's failed leadership.”

The seven-term Wisconsin congressman said it's time for a big decision.

“This is no ordinary time. It's no ordinary election, and the choice is basically this: We can stay on the same path we are on, a nation in debt, a nation in doubt ... or we can elect real leaders like Mitt Romney and get this country back on the right track.”

Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte, Reps. Frank Guinta and Charlie Bass and former Wisconsin Sen. Bob Kasten each spoke prior to Romney's arrival, all lauding Romney's business experience.

Kasten called for a “crusade” in the form of a Reagan-style effort.

“We are about to take this country back,” he said. “We are about to rededicate ourselves to the ideas and ideals of Ronald Reagan and the Republican Party. We are about to talk about God, and family, and the rights to the United States of America and our leadership in the world.”

srios@newstote.com