President Obama and Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney held dueling events Friday where they talked about the state of the U.S. economy.
At the White House, the President held a news conference on the financial crisis in Europe and the state the U.S. economy, urging Congress to act on passing the remaining parts of the American Jobs Act.
The private sector is doing fine,” the President said. “Where we're seeing weaknesses in our economy have to do with state and local government...If Republicans want to be helpful, if they really want to move forward and put people back to work, what they should be thinking about is how do we help state and local governments.”
On the campaign trail, Mitt Romney held a campaign rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa where he criticized the President's remarks on the economy. "He said the private sector is doing fine,” Romney said. “Is he really that out of touch? I think he’s defining what it means to be detached and out of touch with the American people. Has there ever been an American president who is so far from reality as to believe in an America where 23 million Americans are out of work.”
The Republican National Committee also released a new web video, "Doing Fine" in reaction to the President's remarks on the economy earlier in the day. The Obama campaign released a clip on YouTube of Romney's comments in Iowa where questioned the need for more government funding for more firemen, policemen and teachers.
Friday afternoon, President Obama revised his earlier comments that the “private sector is doing fine,” telling reporters that he does not believe the economy is doing fine. “That’s precisely why I asked Congress to start taking some steps that can make a difference,” the President said after a meeting with the Philippines President at the White House.
The day began with the Romney campaign releasing a new TV ad, Strong Leadership, touting Romney's "strong leadership as Governor by "reducing the unemployment rate and balancing budgets without raising taxes." The Obama campaign responded with a conference call with reporters in which Massachusetts State House Democrats gave their viewpoint on Romney's economic record as Governor.
The RNC released their a web video, "Headwinds" prior to President's news conference and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus held a conference call with reporters on the state of presidential race.