Both sides in US presidential race seize on economic report
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican challenger Mr Mitt Romney has used a government report showing tepid economic growth to hammer United States President Barack Obama less than two weeks before Election Day, but the report also had some good news for the president.
With the US Commerce Department reporting a modest 2 per cent growth rate unlikely to make a big dent in unemployment, Mr Romney said Mr Obama inherited a bad situation when he took office and "made the problem worse." He criticised Mr Obama for failing to reduce borrowing and spending, protect entitlement programs or reach deals with Republicans.
The report also provided ammunition for Mr Obama: It showed the economy grew for the 13th straight quarter at a rate that - though modest - beat expectations.
Mr Obama claims progress has been made during his term on fixing the economy, though conceding it hasn't been fast enough, and says Mr Romney's policies would only make matters worse.
