Obama argues against Romney's "top-down economics"

MILWAUKEE (AP) - United States President Barack Obama worked to quash Republican hopes for capturing a key Midwestern swing state on Saturday, pushing back against his rival's complaints about an overly intrusive government and drawing his biggest crowd of the campaign.

Republican nominee Mitt Romney took precious time away from campaigning in the battleground states to raise funds in California and kept up his criticism of the president for fostering a culture of dependency.

Mr Obama enters the weekend with polls showing him in a near tie with Romney nationally.

But a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Marist Poll shows the president with leads among likely voters of 8 percentage points in Iowa and 5 points each in Colorado and Wisconsin, all battleground states.