U.S. President Barack Obama says the American economy has been affected badly by world events, but he blames Congress for deadlock over spending at home.

At a town hall meeting at a park in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, Monday, Mr. Obama said the protracted struggle between Republicans and Democrats over raising the U.S. debt ceiling is “an entirely self-inflicted wound” to the economy.

He said the nation's biggest challenge is putting people to work, and added that everyone needs to be willing to “do a little bit more to get this country back on track.”

The president embarked Monday on a three-state bus tour aimed at answering criticism that he has not done enough to improve the ailing economy.

Mr. Obama holds a second town hall meeting later in the day in the neighboring state of Iowa.

With national unemployment at more than 9 percent, the president is focusing on ways to create jobs and accelerate economic growth. The White House says participants at the town halls include business owners, families, rural organizations, and government officials. Mr. Obama visits Illinois later this week.

The tour comes as Mr. Obama's approval rating has reached an all-time low. A recent Gallup poll indicated only 39 percent of Americans approve of the president's job performance.

Mr. Obama goes to Iowa two days after Republican presidential candidates for next year had their first public test in the state's informal vote, known as a straw poll. U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota won.

The straw poll is seen as an indication of which candidates may do well in next year's presidential primary elections, which begin in February.

Bachmann is a favorite of conservative Tea Party activists. She advocates lower taxes and smaller government.

Texas Representative Ron Paul came in second in the poll. Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty finished a distant third and later withdrew from the presidential race.