LIBERTY TWP. — U.S. House Speaker John Boehner on Saturday called on Republicans in his home county to work together for a record turnout to defeat President Barack Obama and put Mitt Romney in the White House.

“I think all of us understand the importance of this election,” Boehner said at the opening of Romney’s Butler County Victory Headquarters. “I think the election is going to be pretty simple. We can’t afford another four years of the failed economic policies of this administration.”

The West Chester Twp. Republican said when Congress returned from its midsummer recess he would push to repeal the president’s health care package.

“It acts as a wet blanket over our entire economy,” Boehner said. “Republicans believe in a common sense, step-by-step approach to fixing our health care system.”

Boehner touted Romney as an economic leader who had created jobs through his private businesses.

“This election is a referendum on the president’s failed economic policies,” Boehner said. “Ohioans vote with their wallet.”

Jeff Perdew, secretary for the Butler County Democratic Central Committee, said he didn’t believe Obama’s job plan was a failure.

“President Obama has a plan but Congress refuses to try it,” Perdew said. “The Republicans are so intent on defeating Barack Obama they won’t give the economy a chance.”

Perdew said he thought Obama would resonate with voters because “he’s of the middle class and pro-middle class. You can’t say that about Romney.”

The last Democratic presidential candidate to carry Butler County was Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

The Butler County location will serve as a local headquarters not only for Romney, but U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel, who is looking to oust Democrat Sherrod Brown.

“We need to remind Washington bureaucrats that they still work for us,” said Butler County Republican Party Chairman David Kern. “We’re going to replace the do-nothing Democrats in the Senate who are absolutely shameful.”

Josh Senft, 15, and his mother, Gretchan Senft, were among the volunteers who turned out for the opening.

“It’s imperative we take the Senate back,” Gretchan Senft said. “Otherwise (Josh’s) generation is going to have to pay for it.”

“I support Romney because I want him to delete Obamacare,” her son said. “I think the policy is just making things worse than they already are.”

Pete Moore of Hamilton said he believed Romney’s campaign had gotten off to a slow start, but was finally coming together.

“The key thing for me is jobs,” Moore said. “We have to get our economy turned around. Romney is getting his message more precise and once he does that, I think we can take back the White House.”

Staff Photographer Samantha Grier contributed to this report.