(Image Credit: Evan Vucci/AP Photo)

ROSEMONT, Ill. - Playing off President Obama's call for "alternative energy," Mitt Romney told supporters at a Rosemont pancake house that he's the candidate who can beat Barack Obama and provide "an alternative to the president."

"He's out there pushing for alternative energy, and we're here pushing for an alternative to the president. We're going to get a new president,' Romney told the crowd at Pancake Eggcetera.

Romney touted his economic and leadership experience while casting both President Obama and others in the Republican race as an "economic lightweight."

"I understand how the economy works, not because I debated it in congress but because I worked in the real economy. I want to use that skill," said Romney. "We're not going to be successful in replacing an economic lightweight if we nominate an economic lightweight, and I'm an economic heavyweight. I know how this economy works. I'm going to get it working for the American people because I care about the American people."

The former Massachusetts governor attacked the new documentary released by the Obama campaign, calling it a "documercial," and urged the producers to shed light on the problems he believed were caused by the president, particularly the rising price of gasoline.

"He might want to talk to some soccer moms that are having a hard time filling up their car, taking their kids to practice, and the families wondering whether they can get to and from work given the price of gasoline," said Romney.

Romney thanked his supporters and staff in the state, noting that their "energy and passion" are "the reason we're going to win Illinois on Tuesday."

Prior to Romney's morning event, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., joined members of Planned Parenthood who protested outside of Romney's event holding yellow signs reading "Get Your Mitt(s) Off Birth Control."

"Women need to know that Mitt Romney is too extreme when it comes to women's healthcare," Schakowsky told reporters.

Romney popped into Illinois for a quick event Friday morning before jetting to Puerto Rico for two days of campaigning before returning back to the state Saturday evening. Speaking in a suburb just outside Chicago, Romney tailored his standard joke about voting multiple times in the primary to Chicago, a city known for playing dirty politics.

"I need you to vote, I need you all to vote, and by the way, you're allowed to vote multiple times, by, by getting a friend to go with you. There you go. I know this is Chicago, I had to clarify," said Romney.