Cedar Rapids, Iowa ? Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback on Tuesday billed himself as a “full-scale conservative” as he courted activists in the state where precinct caucuses have traditionally kicked off the nominating season.

Brownback said the lessons Republicans should take from the last election is that they face enormous trouble when the party’s conservative base isn’t energized. That’s what he said happened in last month’s election.

“Our ideas weren’t repudiated, our execution was,” Brownback said. “Our base was lethargic because of too much spending and the Washington corruption cases.”

Brownback filed papers earlier this week creating an exploratory committee allowing him travel and raise money as he explores the potential of seeking the Republican presidential nomination.

The senator said he would launch a campaign swing in 10 states holding important early tests of strength. The first stop was in Iowa, where he spoke to Linn County Republicans.

The key, Brownback said, is focusing on conservative values on a broad range of issues.

“I see myself as a full-scale conservative,” he said.

His first effort, he said, will be to consolidate backing among social and religious conservatives.

While Brownback is known for taking hard-line stances on such issues as abortion, he said that to be successful in the primary season, Republicans have to take an equally tough approach on a broad array of issues, ranging from getting tough on spending to tax cuts.

Brownback seeks to grab the “compassionate conservative” title that President Bush used in his first campaign. That means focusing on issues like prison reform, cancer research and fighting AIDS in Africa, issues not normally associated with conservatism.

U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., right, talks with Althea Hasse, of Springville, at the Linn County Republican Party Christmas party at Longbranch Hotel on Tuesday in Marion, Iowa. Brownback is billing himself as a full-scale

Bush started that path early in his tenure, but Brownback said the president was diverted.

“Bush started it, but I still think there’s a lot that can be done with that agenda,” Brownback said. “I think we should be as committed to life as we are to tax cuts.”

He told the activists not to be too discouraged by the election results that saw Republicans lose control of both chambers of Congress. He pointed to recent history.

“These things can be good for our party in the long run,” Brownback said. “In ’91, Bush had won and raised taxes and we lost the presidency in ’92, but then we came back with the Republican revolution in ’94.”

The depth of the loss, he said, should convince Republicans that they need to refocus on their conservative values to make them “better and not bitter.”

Brownback drew more than 70 people to the event. Linn County Republicans Chairman Dan Abolins said the party will remain neutral, using all candidates to help raise money.

“It was a good hit for us to get him,” Abolins said.

Brownback was agriculture secretary in Kansas before winning election to the Senate, and he said he has nurtured deep ties to the farm community. He also said he brings to the race Midwestern values that can sell well in Iowa.

“I’m a fellow Midwesterner and that helps,” Brownback said. “There’s a Midwestern nature that I think people are comfortable with.”