Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is criticizing U.S. President Barack Obama on jobs and defense policy in a key campaign speech to the nation's veterans.
Mr. Romney told the American Legion Convention Wednesday that Mr. Obama has failed them at home and abroad. He said “this president's greatest failure is that he's not delivered those jobs. As president, I will get America to work again.”
He also accused the president of trying to balance the budget at the expense of the military and veterans, saying Mr. Obama is on the verge of breaking a promise he made to the group just last year.
Mr. Romney's comments come ahead of a series of key speeches at the Republican National Convention, including one by U.S. Representative Paul Ryan, set to formally accept the Republican Party's nomination as its vice presidential candidate.
President Obama also hit the campaign trail Wednesday, speaking to a crowd of mostly college students in (Charlottesville)) Virginia.
He chided the Republican convention, calling it a “pretty entertaining show,” but he said voters will not hear Mr. Romney or other Republican party officials offer “a clear, serious path forward.”
Mr. Obama also argued he would do more to help veterans, saying “nobody should have to fight for a job or for a roof over their heads after they've been fighting for our freedom.” And he defended his health care policy, called “Obamacare” by Republicans. The president said he calls Mr. Romney's plan “Romney doesn't care.”
While the candidates traded barbs on the campaign trail, many Republicans are looking forward to Wednesday night's speech by vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan.
The 42-year-old lawmaker from Wisconsin has energized conservative activists ever since he was named as the running mate of presidential candidate Mitt Romney earlier this month. But Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, has come under fire for his proposals to overhaul Medicare, the federal health insurance program for elderly Americans, and to impose deep cuts in other social programs.
Mr. Romney and Ryan were formally nominated Tuesday on the first full day of the convention, which featured speeches by Mr. Romney's wife, Ann, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
The Democrats will hold their convention next week in Charlotte, North Carolina.
