Romney To Address Health Care In Michigan

Mitt Romney's presidential exploratory committee on Tuesday announced the former Massachusetts governor will deliver a speech on Thursday at the University of Michigan.  The speech is designed to explain how, as president, he would repeal President Obama's national health care overhaul that is similar to the effort Romney helped implement in Massachusetts.

Romney will outline a health overhaul that would give states the responsibility of taking care of the poor, uninsured and ill, aides said, and propose giving patients a tax deduction if they buy their own health insurance.

Aides say Romney will outline a health overhaul that would give states the responsibility to take care of the poor, uninsured and ill.  He is also going to offer a plan that would give patients a tax deduction if they buy their own health insurance.

Romney's critics say Massachusetts' plan was a guide for Democrats' national effort.  Thursday's speech on health care will tackle one of his biggest vulnerabilities as a GOP presidential hopeful.

Romney, who is expected to formally join the White House field in the coming weeks, is looking to put behind him questions about the health care law before announcing his candidacy.

During his first White House bid, Romney waited until December - just weeks before the lead-off Iowa caucuses - to address his Mormon faith.  Christian conservatives were wary of Romney's faith and Romney came up short in the caucuses.

His advisers said they learned from that lesson and suggested a speech even before he officially joined the race or attended his first debate. The speech also would allow Romney to claim he was the first among the candidates to detail an alternative to Democrats' plan.