Obama accuses Romney of having no 'single new idea'

TOLEDO, Ohio (AFP) - United States (US) President Barack Obama was in the blue-collar heartland of Ohio on Monday, seeking to energise his labour union base after accusing Republican foe Mitt Romney of failing to offer "a single new idea" to solve the country's problems.

The motorcade of the president, who arrived in Toledo on Sunday, was greeted by pockets of friendly well-wishers, who carried signs saying "New citizen for Obama," "Toledo built Jeep. Thank you, President Obama," "Obama 2012" and "4 more years." Toledo is home to General Motors and Chrysler factories whose workers benefited from the 2009 multi-billion-dollar auto industry bailout championed by the president.

Mr Obama is on a four-day "Road to Charlotte" tour taking in territory that will decide November's election, in which his prospects are clouded by a painfully slow economic recovery and 8.3-per cent unemployment. He has already visited Iowa and Colorado and plans to make a trip to hurricane-stricken Louisiana later in the day.

Should Mr Obama win Ohio, a perennial bellwether state and one where most polls show him with a narrow lead, he will be the hot favourite to win a second term. No Republican has won the White House without having Ohio in his column.