Obama kicks off re-election effort, hits Romney as 'rubber stamp' (1225 hits)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- President Barack Obama plunged into his campaign for a new term and tore into rival Mitt Romney as a willing and eager "rubber stamp" for conservative Republicans in Congress who want to cut taxes for the rich.
Six months before Election Day, the polls point to a close race between Obama and Romney, with the economy the overriding issue as the U.S. struggles to recover from the worst recession since the 1930s. Unemployment remains stubbornly high at 8.1 percent nationally, although it has receded slowly and unevenly since peaking several months into the president's term. The most recent dip was due to discouraged jobless giving up their search for work.
