Obama in Ohio today to celebrate auto recovery in the state

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — President Barack Obama is aiming to get a little more mileage out of Chrysler’s announcement that it’s repaying its government loans ahead of schedule.

The president will be at a Chrysler plant in Toledo today to talk about the resurgence of the U.S. auto industry and say that it wouldn’t have happened without the government’s decision to bailout Chrysler and GM.

It’s no coincidence that Obama is bringing that message to Toledo, a city that straddles Ohio and Michigan. Both states will be important to his re-election bid.

Republicans are pointing out that the government will still lose about $14 billion from the bailout and say it’s no time for a victory lap.

The White House said this week that the losses are far less than originally expected.