Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney made a brief appearance at Willard Airport in Savoyon Friday morning before heading to a campaign fundraiser in town.

Romney’s remarks to local supporters gathered at the airport focused on health care reform.

“I think health care is an enormous issue,” he said, explaining he wants to drive insurance costs down for all Americans and get everyone insured.

Romney, whose term as governor of Massachusetts expired last January, compared his health care plan to that of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton. Romney explained his plan for private, market-based insurance, where the free market would guide the system.

“I think my approach has already proven to be on the way to success in Massachusetts as the only state that has a plan that gets everybody insured, and it’s working,” Romney said. “I certainly hope that the nation adopts the course that we pursued rather than following a big government Washington approach which Senator Clinton is pursuing.”

Jimmy John Liautaud, founder of Jimmy John’s sandwich chain, hosted the fundraising luncheon at his Champaign home. About 75 supporters attended, said Romney spokesperson Sarah Pompei. After his brief stop in Champaign, Romney headed to a dinner campaign fundraiser in Chicago.

“I’ll fight for the votes in the Midwest, including Illinois,” said Romney, who has been lagging in the polls behind his Republican counterparts.

Romney also acknowledged his campaign’s focus on the states with early primary elections.

“I’m pleased that in the places I’ve been making the most stops, I’ve been doing the best,” he said. “If it was the other way around, I’d be worried.”

John Maloney of Champaign was among the Romney supporters at the airport.

“Everyone is entitled to an education,” Maloney said. “How we treat our young in education is how we should treat our young in health care.”

Jacob Vial, senior in Business, Romney supporter and former Illini Media employee, skipped class for the opportunity to meet a presidential candidate.

“We’re going to be entering the workforce and concerned about issues such as health care and taxes,” he said. “I’m graduating and looking at what’s going to affect me.”