July 6, 2012

President Barack Obama says private sector job growth is a "step in the right direction," but the economy must grow faster following a modest monthly job report.

President Obama spoke on the second day of a bus tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania as the government reported that only 80,000 jobs were created in June. That leaving the jobless rate unchanged at 8.2 percent.

Campaigning in New Hampshire, Republican presidential rival Mitt Romney called that rate "unacceptably high" and President Obama must take responsibility for failed policies.

President Obama says the nation has created 4.4 million private sector jobs during the past 28 months but says "it's still tough out there." He says voters need to help break a "stalemate" in Congress that he says is preventing stronger job growth.