Ohio senator disputes Obama comments on auto plan

HAMILTON, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s Republican senator said today that President Barack Obama is distorting Republican Mitt Romney’s position on the auto industry bailout, a key issue in the pivotal state.

Sen. Rob Portman called Obama’s comments at a Dayton rally “reckless and irresponsible,” and said Obama “is not telling the truth.”

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have repeatedly highlighted the auto industry bailout while campaigning in Ohio, saying it helped rescue automakers and save many thousands of jobs in the state. They rallied together Tuesday afternoon in a Dayton park, where Obama stressed the importance his administration’s role, saying the auto industry is linked to as many as one of every eight Ohio jobs.

“If Mitt Romney had been president when the auto industry was on the verge of collapse, we might not have an American auto industry today,” Obama said.

While Romney supported a managed bankruptcy, Portman said Obama used “a political bankruptcy” with the government making decisions, “picking the winners and losers.”

“I think people will be really surprised to learn that what Barack Obama has been saying and what his ads say is not accurate,” Portman said. “Mitt Romney did have a plan to save the auto industry.”