Jindal, Pawlenty on Obama's tail in Ohio, Pa.
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal.
/ Scott Olson/Getty ImagesUpdated: 2:45 p.m. ET
(CBS News) As President Obama embarks on a two-day bus tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania, two of his rival's surrogates - Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty - are close on his tail with a bus tour that takes them through three of the cities Mr. Obama is visiting, blasting the president's record as they go.
Jindal and Pawlenty, both popular Republican figures and potential vice presidential picks, kicked off the Republican National Committee-touted "Middle-Class Promise Gap Tour" with a press conference in a Courtyard Marriott parking lot in Maumee, Ohio just hours before Mr. Obama was slated to speak there.
The event was supposed to take place at a Lucas County Recreational Center but was moved Thursday morning. According to Jim Dinoto, the owner of Line Drive Sportz, which runs the recreation center, the Romney campaign had never officially reserved the space, which was being used for a sports camp. The RNC said the event was moved due to rain.
Hitting Mr. Obama hard for what they cast as a lack of leadership experience and a host of broken promises to the middle class, Jindal and Pawlenty urged Americans to vote Mr. Obama out of office.
"His presidency has been a losing hand for America and for Ohio," Pawlenty said. "When he stands before the people of this country in this election, we should all recall the promises he made last time and the promises that remain unfulfilled and broken."
"We know that we are not better off than we were four years ago. We know that we can't afford another four more years of this president," Jindal added. "We've gotta get America back on track again... It starts by electing Mitt Romney this November."
Added Pawlenty in an interview with CBS affiliate WTOL: "Barack Obama's basic slogan for this campaign is, 'Hey, it could be worse.' Mitt Romney's slogan is, 'It will be better.' And I think people in Lucas County understand that."
About three hours after Romney's surrogates held the press conference, Mr. Obama spoke to an enthusiastic crowd in the same city - Maumee - where he announced that the United States plans to file an unfair trade complaint against China.
He also acknowledged the divisive nature of current electoral politics.
"Unless you have been hiding out in the woods somewhere you are aware of the fact that it is campaign season," he said. "I understand it's not always pretty to watch."
Still, he urged voters to stay involved.
"I'm betting you won't lose interest," he said. "I'm betting on you."
At about the same time, Pawlenty and Jindal held a rally at the Kentown Shopping Center in Parma, Ohio - also on Mr. Obama's travel itinerary - before heading to Pittsburgh for a Friday morning rally.
The two-day tour comes on the heels of a controversial week for Romney, who has taken some heat from the right for his response to an ongoing debate over whether the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act qualifies as a mandate or a tax.
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Why do you hate America so much?????????????????
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I love America. I hate freeloaders and deadbeats who are full of themselves and feel they're entitled to a bunch of free stuff given to them by the government since they're took weak or stupid to get it themselves.
Fortunately, most americans don't feel that way. It's just a vocal fringe element on this site and other lib blogs that spout this sickening sentiment.
Well gosh, if enemployment didn't go down to 8 from 10, everyone in the world must have it wrong except you.
You.. you must be GOD.
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Flattery will get you nowhere, Ben.
The reason for the drop in the unemployment rate, the real reason, was widely reported in the media (surprisingly so, since the media generally tones down anything that is detrimental to the Liberal cause) - and they reported that it was due to people giving up and leaving the workforce after not being able to get work. It was not due to people going back to work in droves. The White House touted it initially and then shut up when it came out that it wouldn't help Obama's cause, at all. You can look it up, it only take around five seconds.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Housing markets are recovering - by whose reckoning? Studies only SUGGEST this MIGHT be about to happen
Dow is up to almost 13,000 from 7,500 at the depths of the 2008 crash - I see, and where are all the jobs then if we're all doing so well? No jobs is the fault of Obama and his policies.
bin Laden is dead - thanks to the policies put in place by Bush. Obama just had to say "Pull the Trigger" big whoop
Combat Ops in Iraq are over - tell that to the platoons over there right now
Auto industry was saved - it was not saved - it would have survived anyway
Gas prices down 50 cents a gal. in the past month - nothing to do with Obama
Wall Street paid back the $850 BILLION Bush TARP to avoid being regulated - nothing to do with Obama
Here's some more relevant news:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/jobs-report-expected-show-struggling-unemployment-picture/story?id=16706100#.T_Xvi5GHgfg
This is the most telling indicator on Obama's ability to lead and his effectiveness on the economy.
Every leader has been faced with opposing political views - it is the effective leaders who are able to find a middle ground and move forward. A real leader doesn't say "My way or the highway" and then blame the other side for not rubberstamping his policies.
Republicans are out to take; what they think these people claim they are "entitled" to from the government.
Middle class Americans paid into the funds for Medicare and Social Security.
We are not asking for "entitlements", we simply want our money back.
Democrooks and Republicrooks in Congress feel they are so far above the middle class and the poor and elderly; they feel they are "entitled" to huge salaries they have done no work for for the last 3+ years, automatic raises every year, elite health and pension plans and all the other perks the title of Congressman affords them.
Every last one of them; including Obama; belongs in jail; including the CEO's of the corrupt banks, Wall Street, big business, mortgage lenders etc. for taking all of our tax dollars, jobs, our homes and anything else they think they can get away with stealing, and they are spending it on what's best for them (not you or me) and paying back all their supporter they made promises to before they even set foot in Washington.
HELLO CONGRESS.!!
Remember us, the people who pay your salaries and provided all the money for the government to continue functioning and expected you to represent us in Washington.??
You weren't satisfied with contributing to the economic down fall of the US using taxpayer money.
You have created a "monster" who is devouring all of our money and are now borrowing money from other countries which you expect Americans to pay for.
Make the salary for a Congressman or a Senator $1 per year and take away all the perks.
They should still be able to live off of the bribes from big business and lobbyists.
Forget Congress just as they seem to have forgotten us.
There is not one politician currently on office who is competent to lead this country.
Once again; we are going to be forced to choose between evil and corrupt and more evil and corrupt.
GOD HELP US ALL.!!!
Unemployment down to 8% from 10.5%
Housing markets are recovering
Dow is up to almost 13,000 from 7,500 at the depths of the 2008 crash
bin Laden is dead
Combat Ops in Iraq are over
Auto industry was saved
Gas prices down 50 cents a gal. in the past month
Wall Street paid back the $850 BILLION Bush TARP to avoid being regulated
All done with Boner, and Can'tor chewing at our Constitutionally elected President's ankles
Yep, we're better off than we were 4 years ago, unless you are a complete moron who refuses to accept reality.
The event was supposed to take place at a Lucas County Recreational Center but was moved"
LOL! So the romney attack dogs gave a press conference in the parking lot, since the Rec Center was unavailable for republicans!