U.S. President Barack Obama took his economic message on the road Wednesday, naming a new consumer watchdog in a recess appointment that has angered Republicans.

Opponents in the Senate had blocked the vote on the nomination of Richard Cordray to head the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

President Obama told an audience in the state of Ohio that both Democrats and Republicans know Cordray is qualified, but Republicans wanted to weaken the law setting up the position. He said the nomination was held “hostage” by Congress.

The president, who faces a difficult campaign to win a second term because of the sluggish economy, said the position is needed to protect American consumers from abuses of the financial industry. He said too much oversight was not the reason why the country got into its financial mess.

But the top Senate Republican, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said Mr. Obama has “arrogantly circumvented the American people.” He said the appointment represents a “sharp departure from a long-standing precedent” that has limited the president to make recess appointments only when the Senate is in a recess of 10 days or longer.

But the president said when Congress refuses to act, he has an obligation to do something.

In a statement, McConnell said the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is “poised to be one of the least accountable and most powerful agencies in Washington.”

Mr. Obama faces frustration from American people over the state of the economy.

He told supporters at the Iowa Democratic Party caucuses Tuesday that the problems of the last three years did not happen “overnight” and will not be fixed “overnight.”

The president, who ran unopposed in the Democratic Party caucuses, said his administration's progress can only be maintained if his supporters display the same energy that propelled him to the White House in 2008.

“You guys inspire me every single day. And I want us to remind ourselves, and to remind each other, that as much work as there may be out there before us, there is nothing we can't accomplish when determined citizens come together and decide they want to make a difference.”

Republicans hoping to win the White House have been vocal critics of the president, saying they hope to repeal health care reform and change the direction of the country.