Economic strength provides a whole lot of liberty. Pays for the best military in the world, allows us a higher standard of living than just about anywhere else in the world, allows people a path to be responsible for themselves and their dependents and it allows us to influence what goes on in the world. Poor nations and those with bad economic policies are far more unstable and far more restrictive of personal liberties.
Whoever gets the job had better know what they are doing when it comes to matters involving dollars and cents. Romney has that knowledge. Too bad he has real weaknesses in other important areas.