OSAGE, Iowa — Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum brought his message of conservative action to northern Iowa on Monday — with few surprises.

His vows sounded familiar: No new taxes, tougher immigration laws, no gay marriage, no abortion, lots of entitlement reform and more jobs.

The country is in danger of losing its stature, he said.

“We are at a critical juncture” in our history, he told a small audience at the Osage Public Library.

If America was going to maintain a free society of free enterprise, “we can’t have a government that micro-manages … and puts our country in hock,” he said.

Osage was one of three stops on Santorum’s 99-county tour that ends Wednesday. He also stopped in Garner, Northwood and Cresco.

Traveling with him was Ben Lange, a U.S. congressional candidate running against Rep. Bruce Braley.

Santorum, of Pennsylvania, hit hard on his work in the U.S. Senate, saying that he “led the charge” in a number of fights.

Among the most important, he said, was his work to promote the Federal Marriage Amendment, which he brought forth twice to the Senate floor.

“And after I left the U.S. Senate, there has not been a vote since,” he said.

He wants to boost manufacturing to create new jobs, he said, and said he was particularly mindful of the failure of Washington to keep rural interests in mind. He said he was proud of being asked to be a part of the ag and rural affairs committee of the Senate – the first Republican asked in 100 years, he said.

“I’ve made a commitment to Iowa, to rural Iowa,” adding that too often public policy “has not kept rural America strong.”

“We’re losing a lot of that (rural America); and if we lose that, we’ll lose a lot of America,” Santorum said.

He spoke at length about Social Security, noting that a president needs to initiate “an honest conversation” about how changes over the years have impacted the program. Age eligibility needs to be addressed, he said.

Those attending asked questions; several said they were there on a fact-finding mission.

“I was very impressed with him,” said Judy Scholljegerdes of Stacyville. “I am a conservative voter. I’m here because I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

The same was true for Char Kirkegaard of Osage.

“I wanted to find out what he had to say. But I think if seniors work longer (responding to Santorum’s talk about Social Security), that’s not going to help our country’s job situation,” she said.