Fresh off capping the Republican Convention with a rallying call for a “better future” for America, Mitt Romney hit the campaign trail Friday on his first official day as the Republican nominee for president, flying to Louisiana to tour damage from Hurricane Isaac.

Romney, who scrapped an appearance in Virginia to visit Louisiana instead, scheduled a last-minute visit Friday to Lafitte, La., where he will tour damage with Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Isaac canceled the first day of Romney’s Republican convention and campaign officials had been considering the visit for several days.

Romney is expected to thank emergency first responders for their work. Heavy rains and flooding have contributed to at least five deaths in Louisiana and Mississippi this week after the slow-moving storm knocked out power in whole neighborhoods.

Romney reintroduced himself to the country Thursday night in Tampa, where he delivered a personal nomination acceptance address in which he pledged to fix the economy and critiqued President Obama.

The former Massachusetts governor made a clear effort on the closing night of the GOP convention to let voters know a little more about Romney the man — not just Romney the businessman. He flashed his humorous side, at one moment an emotional side, as he told the story of his parents, his children, his wife and his early days in business.

And before the balloons and confetti rained down, he drew the address back to the message that has driven his campaign: Obama has not lived up to the lofty promise of his successful 2008 run, he said, and does not have what it takes to fix the economy.

“What is needed in our country today is not complicated or profound. It doesn’t take a special government commission to tell us what America needs,” Romney said. “What America needs is jobs. Lots of jobs.”

Romney called on voters to put the “disappointment” and the “divisiveness” of the last four years behind them, and “turn the page” with him.

“This president can ask us to be patient. This president can tell us it was someone else’s fault. … But this president cannot tell us that you’re better off today than when he took office,” Romney said. “Now is the time to restore the promise of America.”

Romney tried to cast himself as the more level-headed, and less lofty, choice.

“President Obama promised to begin to slow the rise of the oceans and to heal the planet,” Romney said. “My promise is to help you and your family.”

The Associated Press, FoxNews.com’s Cristina Corbin and Fox News’ James Rosen contributed to this report.