Obama makes "birther" joke in N.H.
NASHUA, N.H. While wanting to be seen keeping an eye on Hurricane Sandy and overseeing federal preparedness for the storm, President Obama came to swing state New Hampshire to slam Mitt Romney for upping taxes and fees in neighboring Massachusetts.
"He raised fees to get a birth certificate which would have been expensive for me," said the president to laughter and cheers. It was a veiled reference to so-called "birthers" who doubt he was born in America and question the veracity of his Hawaii certificate of birth.
On the flight from the nation's capital to the Granite State, Mr. Obama was updated on steps being taken by FEMA and other agencies to help states and localities prepare for severe weather.
In a statement, the White House said the president again directed that his storm team "bring all available resources to bear" and "ensure there were no unmet needs as states continue to prepare" for Sandy's unpredictable onslaught.
The hurricane is affecting some campaign schedules. A spokesman said Mr. Obama would leave Sunday night instead of Monday morning for a previously-scheduled campaign event Monday in Orlando, Fla.
"He will continue to focus on the storm, even as he campaigns," Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters aboard Air Force One. He said it's another example of the president putting his responsibilities as commander in chief and leader of the country first, while also fulfilling his responsibilities as a candidate.
Earnest said Mr. Obama's priorities are clear: making sure state and local officials have what they need to prepare for this storm.
It was a mild day in New Hampshire, where sometimes there's snow on the ground at this time of year. But at 63 degrees, it was warm enough for Mr. Obama to deliver his campaign remarks in rolled-up shirt sleeves. He said the temperature felt closer to 70.
On the front steps of Elm Street Middle School, addressing a crowd estimated by the local fire marshal at 8,500, the president sought again to portray Mitt Romney as a politician whose promises could not be trusted.
Close to the border with Massachusetts, Mr. Obama spoke of Romney's campaign for governor there.
"He said he'd fight for jobs and middle class families. But once he took office, he pushed through a tax cut that overwhelmingly benefited 278 of the wealthiest families in the state. And then he raised taxes and fees on middle class families - to the tune of $750 million."
The president said that on Romney's watch in the Bay State "there were higher fees to be a barber, higher fees to become a nurse. There were higher fees for gas. There were higher fees for milk. There were higher fees for blind people that needed to get a certificate that they were blind."
The president said that Romney raised fees for marriage certificates and fees for funeral homes, "so there were literally cradle to grave tax hikes and fees.
The Romney Campaign pushed back forcefully against Pres. Obama's swipes.
"Today's desperate attacks are laughable coming from a President whose only plan for a second term is to recycle the failed policies of the last four years while raising taxes by $2 trillion," said Romney spokesman Ryan Williams.
He said that as governor, Romney worked with Democrats to close a $3 billion deficit and balance four budgets while cutting taxes 19 times.
"President Obama is the only candidate in this race who has raised taxes on America's middle class," said Williams. He said Romney's policies "will strengthen the middle class, add 12 million new jobs, and finally deliver a real recovery."
Before Mr. Obama took the stage at his rally, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., delivered an even more vituperative slam at Romney.
"It's clear that women can't trust Mitt Romney," she said. Urging women to re-elect the president, Shaheen said: "We'll keep our rights, we'll keep our health care, we'll keep our president."
Including men in her appeal, she asked the crowd, "Are we gonna deliver New Hampshire for the president who saved the auto industry?"
Joining in the appeals for the president at the event was singer-songwriter James Taylor. In between songs, he asked his fans to support "this fantastic president."
"It's an expression of love for your fellow man to work for this wonderful president," he said of Mr. Obama, who presented Taylor last year with a National Medal of the Arts.
Taylor performed "Carolina In My Mind." Mr. Obama accepted the nomination of his party last month in North Carolina. But he has never set food in South Carolina as president.
This was the president's sixth visit this year to New Hampshire. It only has four electoral votes to offer, but he made clear he can't afford to overlook them.
On his arrival, Mr. Obama dropped by a Teamsters Union local to asking members for their support.
He told them the election is going to be tight and New Hampshire's electoral votes "could make the difference."
