By David Jackson, USA TODAY
MAUMEE, Ohio -- President Obama opened his "Betting on America" tour
of Ohio and Pennsylvania Thursday by touting the rescue of the U.S. auto
industry and tweaking Mitt Romney for advocating managed bankruptcy.
"I
was betting on the American worker, and I was betting on American
industry," Obama told backers gathered on the lawn of a 19th Century
mansion outside of Toledo.
Obama also drew applause for announcing
a new World Trade Organization complaint against China, saying they are
slapping unfair duties on American vehicles -- including Jeep Wranglers
made in Toledo.
In a campaign speech spiced with gambling
metaphors, Obama said that "the stakes could not be bigger" in his race
against Romney.
Democrats and Republicans are offering "two fundamentally different visions" about the direction of the country, Obama said.
Romney
and other Republicans want to lavish tax cuts on the wealthy, Obama
said, while his programs -- from education to health care -- are
designed to help the middle class and poor.
Romney aides, meanwhile, said that unemployment remains over 8%, while his spending policies have exploded the national debt.