Seeking to affirm his conservative credentials in front of a crowd of Republican activists today, Mitt Romney waged a defense of his time as governor of Massachusetts, declaring, “I was a severely conservative Republican governor.”

“I fought against all odds in a deep blue state,” Romney said.  “But I was a severely conservative Republican governor. I understand the battles we as conservatives must fight, because I have been on the front lines, and expect to be on those front lines again.”

It was a defense of a part of his record that has come under frequent attack during the course of the GOP primary. 

Earlier this morning, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum likened the statewide health care plan Romney launched in 2006 to a "stepchild” of President Obama’s federal program.

Romney’s speech was, in some ways, a vigorous defense of this morning’s broadside from Santorum, who swept a series of primary contests Tuesday night, posing a new threat to Romney’s path to the nomination.

But the defense involved a delicate dance for Romney, who touted his time as governor of Massachusetts, all while railing against career politicians.

“I happen to be the only candidate in this race – Republican or Democrat – who has never worked a day in Washington,” Romney said, adding, “I don’t have old scores to settle, or decades of cloakroom deals that I have to defend.”

“This gathering has always welcomed me,” Romney told the crowd of his record, “and you’ve consistently supported me, not because of my rhetoric, but because of my record in that deep blue state.”

Edited by NBC's Jay Rankin

President Obama announced changes to a rule that would have required some religious institutions to provide contraceptive coverage to their employees on Friday in a bow to complaints from religious groups and conservative Republicans.

Obama announced a rule that would require insurers who provide coverage to religiously-affiliated employers to notify employees of the contraceptive services for which they're eligible for free coverage.

It's a revision to a previous proposal that would have given groups like Catholic charities and hospitals a year to add contraceptive services to their health care plans; administration officials say they would have spent the interim period consulting with groups on ways to balance their religious concerns with the new requirement.

But today, Obama acknowledged that a chorus of critical Catholic bishops and other faith leaders, as well as criticism from lawmakers and candidates, compelled him to speed up the timeline and announce a final rule today.

“After the many genuine concerns that have been raised over the last few weeks, as well as, frankly, the more cynical desire on the part of some to make this into a political football, it became clear that spending months hammering out a solution was not going to be an option,” he said, addressing reporters in the White House briefing room today.

“So last week, I directed the Department of Health and Human Services to speed up the process that had already been envisioned,” Obama continued, as that department’s secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, stood next to him. “We weren't going to spend a year doing this; we're going to spend a week or two doing this.”

“Women who work at these institutions will have access to free contraceptive services, just like other women, and they'll no longer have to pay hundreds of dollars a year that could go towards paying the rent or buying groceries,” Obama said.

Exemptions from this rule for religious institutions where most employees are of the same faith, like churches, remain intact.

The White House contends that insurance companies will agree to cover such costs because preventive services reduce the likelihood of more expensive medical care like cancer treatment and unexpected pre and post-natal care.

While Obama said today the new rule preserves the “principle of religious liberty," his announcement immediately elicited a new round of outcry from detractors on the campaign trail, in Congress and beyond.

Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, speaking today at the Conservative Political Action Committee’s annual gathering in Washington, told a room full of activists that if elected, he would “reverse every single Obama regulation that attacks our religious liberty and threatens innocent life.”

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), a chief sponsor of a bill that would overturn the whole mandate, called the announcement “an accounting gimmick.”

“Just because you can come up with an accounting gimmick and pretend like religious institutions do not have to pay for the mandate, does not mean that you've satisfied the fundamental constitutional freedoms that all Americans are guaranteed,” he said in a written statement.

And while Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said he thought it was “good that the President reaffirmed that the Federal government cannot force faith-based institutions to provide services that they teach are wrong,” he said measures like this demonstrate that “our Constitutional rights will continue to be threatened by the Administration’s policy goals.”

Religious organizations also sounded off, including the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a self-described legal and educational institute that “protects the free expression of all faith” and has so far filed three lawsuits in federal courts against the rule. The group noted that some religious organizations may object to having to pay an insurance company which “which will turn around and provide contraception to its employees for free.”

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and a vocal opponent of the mandate, said that the change to the rule was “a first step in the right direction” but said that his group reserved “judgment on the details until we have seen them.”

But the new plan did seem to mollify some Democrats who had previously objected to the plan. Virginia Senate candidate Tim Kaine, the former governor of that state, said he was “pleased that the White House has taken further steps to ensure that all women have access to affordable contraception and to ensure that religious organizations will not be asked to violate their beliefs in the process.”

Kaine had a harsher tone on Tuesday, before the change was announced, saying the White House “made a bad decision in not allowing a broad enough religious-employer exemption.”

And Rep. John Larson (D-CT), who wrote a letter to Sebelius last week saying HHS needed to “re-engage in a dialogue with the religious community on this matter,” today praised the administration’s shift.

"In this politically charged environment, it is heartening to see that we can come together to find a path forward that protects the health needs of women while recognizing the conscience concerns of religious institutions,” Larson said in a statement.

NBC's Shawna Thomas, Libby Leist and Pete Williams contributed to this report.

How does Romney win the GOP nomination? Or can he? Thanks for the question, Devie!

Edited by NBC's Matt Loffman.

WASHINGTON -- Rick Santorum told an enthusiastic CPAC crowd that he was one of them, drawing contrasts his Republican presidential rivals, whose views he likened to President Obama’s.

"We know each other. We’ve worked together in the vineyards,” Santorum told the activists, stressing their common roots. “We've taken on the tough battles that confront this country. I know you and you know me and that's important because we've worked together.”

"Some say experience is a bad thing in this election. I don't think so. I think knowing the people who are the conservative leaders, knowing the people who have worked in the vineyards for decades, knowing the people who bring the ideas and the breath and the well spring of ideas to conservatism is important,” Santorum added.

The former Pennsylvania senator made his pitch to the activists, who rewarded him with a standing ovation, on the heels of his victories in a trio of nominating contests on Tuesday, upsetting Mitt Romney.

Santorum’s speech Friday was filled with subtle shots at Romney, though few specific mentions of his name. Santorum argued that money alone – a strength of the Romney campaign – isn’t enough to win the election. Republicans need passion, ignited by a conservative nominee, in order to win, he argued.

"As conservatives we lost our heart," he said, speaking of past losses in presidential campaigns. "The lesson we learned is that we will no longer abandon our principles for a hallowed victory in November."

Santorum has spent his time on the campaign trail this week largely focused on Romney and President Obama, with little mention of Newt Gingrich. His attacks at CPAC were clearly intended for Romney, the campaign’s frontrunner.

"We always talk about how we are going to get the moderates.  Why would an undecided voter, vote for a candidate of a party that the party's not excited about?" Santorum said.

He left the direct hits to the man who introduced him, Foster Friess.

The Wyoming billionaire is the chief funder of the "Red, White and Blue Fund" and has been traveling with the inner circle of the campaign -- raising questions about where the line is drawn between candidates ability to interact with their Super PACs  without coordinating.

Today, Friess opened with a joke about a liberal, a moderate and conservative walking into a bar.

The bartender says "Hi, Mitt," the punch line goes.

Edited by NBC's Morgan Parmet

Obama administration officials say they are are accommodating charity hospitals, religious-affiliated universities, or other religious organizations when it comes to providing employees free contraception under the federal health-care law.

What does that accommodation mean? The policy going forward will be the insurance company -- NOT the hospital or charity -- will have the opportunity to reach out and offer contraception coverage, free of charge, if a religious-affiliated employer objects to providing this coverage.

Per a fact sheet being passed around:

Under the new policy announced today, women will have free preventive care that includes contraceptive services no matter where she works. The policy also ensures that if a woman works for religious employers with objections to providing contraceptive services as part of its health plan, the religious employer will not be required to provide contraception coverage but her insurance company will be required to offer contraceptive care free of charge.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, one of Mitt Romney's highest-value backers, juiced up the CPAC crowd early Friday in advance of the GOP frontrunner's speech to the group, lauding Romney as a "responsible" and "consistent" conservative.

"I believe he's the results-oriented conservative," McDonnell said to some applause in the ballroom, which was filling to the gills largely in anticipation of the next speaker, Rick Santorum.

"He's the guy, whether it's been as governor of Massachusetts, as head of a large private sector company, in turning around the Olympics, he's the results-oriented, can-do, consistent conservative," McDonnell said of Romney.

Listing his candidate's job-creation record, McDonnell added, "That's, to me, the kind of can-do responsible conservative leadership that we need for the United States of America." 

McDonnell's direct reference to his endorsee contrasted with yesterday's omission by former presidential candidates Herman Cain and Rick Perry -- both  of whom neglected to mention their support for Newt Gingrich in their addresses to the crowd.

The popular Virginia governor, who is widely discussed as a vice presidential pick, also offered details about his biography, including his 21 years in the United States Army.

And in a shot at Rick Santorum, he spoke emotionally about his daughter, an Army platoon leader who McDonnell said would call him from Iraq with tales of being under fire from the enemy.

"Yes I did get a little bit emotional. But she didn't," he said. "She got the job done."

He largely veered away from social issues but slammed the president for failing to balance the budget.

"I say Mr. President, take responsibility. You're the commander in chief, get the job done, quit making excuses, let's turn this country around," he said.

He also offered shoutouts to a list of fellow Republican governors who enjoy popularity in among conservative voters despite flagging overall approval ratings, including Govs. Scott Walker and Rick Scott.

Cliff Owen / AP

Mitt Romney addresses the Northern Virginia Technology Council - Consumer Electronics Presidential Series breakfast in Reston, Va., Friday, Feb. 10, 2012.

What a difference four years can make: Romney at CPAC in ’08 vs, ’12… Santorum (at 10:25 am ET), Romney (12:55 pm), and Gingrich (4:10 pm) all set to address CPAC, and straw poll results and Sarah Palin to come tomorrow… GOPers and Romney advisers getting nervous about Romney’s performance… Maine caucus results on Saturday… White House to address contraception policy (and possible changes) today… Obama five years ago today… And Santorum and Lew to appear on “Meet the Press.”

*** What a difference four years can make: On Feb. 7, 2008, fresh after his losses to John McCain on Super Tuesday, Mitt Romney walked into the ballroom at CPAC as a rock star and the conservative alternative to McCain. And when he told the audience he was exiting the presidential race, the boisterous crowd groaned, the L.A. Times reported at the time. Attendees also chanted, “Mitt, Mitt, Mitt,” the New York Times added. Conservatives there wanted someone else (Romney, Huckabee) rather than the man who was well on his way to becoming the party’s nominee (McCain). But almost exactly four years later, a funny thing has happened: Romney has turned into the 2012 version of McCain. Even though his positions and stances haven’t changed much from that ’08 campaign -- with the big exception of his 2012 emphasis on his business background -- Romney is now the one who’s his party’s likely nominee and who, at least right now, elicits little passion from the conservative base. Just check out this headline from the Washington Post: “At CPAC, little love for Mitt Romney, but most see him as inevitable nominee.”

*** Romney, Santorum, and Gingrich all set to address CPAC: Yet there’s another difference between Feb. 2008 and Feb. 2012: The GOP race right now is far from over, and Super Tuesday is nearly a month away. Today, Romney (at 12:55 pm ET), Rick Santorum (at 10:25 am), and Newt Gingrich (at 4:10 pm) address the CPAC confab. According to excerpts of his remarks, Gingrich will say, “Getting America again will require bold thinking and bold solutions. Many of these new approaches will be opposed by the establishment in both parties.” He will mention replacing the EPA with an “Environmental Solutions Agency”; creating a 21^st century Food and Drug Administration; replacing NASA’s bureaucracy; and limiting judges “who violate the Constitution.” In addition, Gingrich will discuss his support for an optional 15% flat tax, setting capital gains to zero, and bringing gas prices down to $2 per gallon. Tomorrow, we’ll get the CPAC straw poll results (at 4:15 pm ET) and the concluding speech by Sarah Palin (at 4:30 pm).

*** But the more things change, the more they stay the same: While things have changed for Romney from four years ago, this line from Romney’s speech a CPAC last year is very familiar, NBC’s Marc Koslow notes: “My father never graduated from college. He apprenticed as a lath and plaster carpenter, and he was darn good at it. He learned how to put a handful of nails in his mouth and spit them out, point forward. On his honeymoon, he and mom drove across the country. Dad sold aluminum paint along the way, to pay for gas and hotels.” It’s the same thing he said about his father in Colorado on Tuesday. So the more things change, the more they remain the same…

*** Republicans and advisers getting nervous about Romney’s performance: A growing challenge for Romney is Republicans and even his own advisers have become “increasingly anxious” about his performance, the Washington Post writes. “One prominent adviser told the candidate to sharpen his use of conservative code words and create ‘small pictures’ — vivid imagery, in other words — to connect with voters. Another flew to Boston to say that Romney’s message is too businesslike and broad to capture the passion of angry Republican voters. Still others have gone on television and written opinion columns to hammer home what is becoming a common theme this year: that Romney has not been able to ignite a cause when the GOP is primed to become part of one.” So we’ve gone from advisers taking credit (in the New York Times) for his turnaround in Florida, to now criticizing him (in the Washington Post) after his defeats on Tuesday. Folks, that isn’t characteristic of a winning presidential campaign…

*** Maine results on Saturday: A final note about the GOP presidential race: On Saturday, we’ll get the results from Maine’s caucus, which has taken place (for the most part) from Feb. 4 through Feb. 11. The results are expected to be announced around 7:30 pm ET, the Maine GOP has told First Read. Maine awards 24 delegates, but like in Iowa, Colorado, and Minnesota, the precise allocation of delegates will be determined at a later date. After his remarks at CPAC, Romney heads to Portland, ME.

*** White House to address contraception policy today: Turning away from the GOP presidential contest to the contraception controversy the Obama White House is facing, First Read can report that it will address its contraception policy TODAY. Per the AP, “A person familiar with the decision says President Barack Obama will announce a plan to accommodate religious employers outraged by a rule that would require them to cover birth control for women free of charge.” The White House definitely wants to be able to put a period on this. While this story has been at the very least a headache for Team Obama and could be a potential problem come November, the culture-war rhetoric we heard from Republican leaders at CPAC yesterday suggested something that could turn of independent voters. It may end up a wash in the end, but it’s fascinating that both political parties – in their heart of hearts – believes this contraception issue is a political winner for them.

*** Obama five years ago: By the way, today happens to be fifth anniversary of Obama’s presidential announcement in Springfield, IL. (One of your First Read authors was covering the event there, and remains cold from the frigid air that day.) The Obama campaign is up with a video commemorating that day. And, not surprisingly, the RNC is up with its own video marking that announcement.

*** On “Meet” this Sunday: NBC’s David Gregory interviews Rick Santorum and White House Chief of Staff Jacob Lew.

Countdown to Super Tuesday: 25 days
Countdown to Election Day: 270 days

Click here to sign up for First Read emails.
Text FIRST to 622639, to sign up for First Read alerts to your mobile phone.
Check us out on Facebook and also on Twitter. Follow us @chucktodd, @mmurraypolitics, @DomenicoNBC, @brookebrower