Obama embarks on bus tour to connect with masses on eco issues

Washington, Aug 16: US President Barack Obama has hit the road on a bus tour of three key swing states in rural America in a bid to connect with masses on economic issues, including unemployment, a move seen as the launch of his 2012 election campaign against an emboldened Republican party.

Kicking off the three-day midwestern bus tour of Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, Obama yesterday hit strongly at the Republican leaders, who have the majority in the House of Representatives, and accused them of blocking economic reforms and development of the country.

He warned Republican lawmakers -- who have been slamming his economic policies -- that they will be defeated if they continue to obstruct his policies.

Amid an economic meltdown that has led to high rates of unemployment in the country, Obama said that he would send a jobs package to Congress next, ask lawmakers to pass it and campaign against them if they refuse.

"I want you to help hold all of us accountable, me included. I am enlisting you in this fight, because if you're making your voices heard, if you're letting people know that enough is enough, it is time to move forward, it is time for us to win the future -- if your voices are heard, then sooner or later these guys have to start paying attention," Obama said in his remarks at a town hall meeting in Decorah, Iowa.

"If they don't start paying attention then they're not going to be in office and we will have a new Congress in there that will start paying attention to what is going on all across America," the President said.

PTI