Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney pointed Wednesday to the Massachusetts health reform law he signed - and particularly its coverage of children - when asked about his compassion for middle class people.

Romney raised the law in an interview with NBC News. Conservatives have criticized Romney for supporting the law, which they and some Democrats see as similar to the health reform law signed by President Barack Obama. Romney has said his law was constitutional and appropriate in Massachusetts, but was not meant to be implemented nationally.

"I think throughout this campaign as well, we talked about my record in Massachusetts, don't forget -- I got everybody in my state insured," Romney told NBC News, according to a quote on their website. "One hundred percent of the kids in our state had health insurance.

"I don't think there's anything that shows more empathy and care about the people of this country than that kind of record," he continued.

The GOP candidate released a new television advertisement Wednesday saying his "policies will make things better for" middle class and poor individuals.

And at a rally in Toledo, Ohio, Romney explained that "government has a role" in helping people.

"We have people that are hurting, we have people who are disabled and people who are poor, they need our help and they receive our help," he said. "We're a charitable people."

"So we're going to help those that need our help, we're a compassionate people," he continued. "At the same time, at the same time, we're going to insist that these people have the opportunity for work if they can carry out work, if they're able-bodied. Because we are not going to create a society of dependence on government."

At the Toledo event, Romney also reaffirmed his commitment to "repeal Obamacare and replace it with real health care reform."

"Obamacare is really Exhibit No. 1 of the president's political philosophy, and that is that government knows better than people how to run your lives," he said.