HUDSON - Former Gov. Mitt Romney emphasized the importance of small business to America’s economic recovery during a stop at Gilchrist Metal Fabricating in Hudson on Monday.

Jack Gilchrist is the second-generation owner of Glichrist Metal Fabricating. He said it’s been hard to sustain growth in the last couple of years as small business suffers from "Obama trauma."

“I think the president has tried but he has failed,” Romney said.

The candidate pointed to 35 months of unemployment above 8.5 percent and a 10 percent drop in the median income as proof the administration has failed American workers.

He outlined a plan to create a favorable environment for American businesses to grow and create jobs. Romney also talked about making the private insurance industry more competitive to allow people to buy the coverage they prefer and lower costs.

“We should be able to choose the insurance company of our choice and we should not have to have one imposed on us through Obamacare,” Romney said.