Romney cites 'job crisis' despite job gains

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney charged ahead with his economic arguments in spite of unemployment dropping to its lowest level since President Barack Obama took office.

Obama was planning to spend Saturday celebrating the 20th wedding anniversary he had put aside because it fell on the day of the debate.

On Sunday, Obama is scheduled to launch a lucrative and celebrity-packed fundraising swing to Los Angeles and San Francisco, a two-day trek followed by a campaign rally in ever-important Ohio on Tuesday.

With Vice President Joe Biden and Romney running mate Paul Ryan forgoing public events ahead of their own debate, on Thursday in Danville, Kentucky, Romney had the stage to himself Saturday for a campaign event near Orlando, Florida.

Aides said Romney would spend part of the day preparing for his next debate with Obama, scheduled for Oct. 16 in Hempstead, New York before speaking at an evening rally. The president's team said Obama hasn't had any formal practice sessions since the first debate.

Romney all but ignored the latest positive jobs numbers while campaigning Friday night in Florida, instead highlighting his strong debate performance and presenting a more compassionate message as he sought to overcome Obama's narrow lead in the polls. He made clear earlier in the day that he did not agree with the president's assessment that the unemployment statistic -- it dipped from 8.1 percent to 7.8 percent in September --is a sign of an economy heading in the right direction.

``By any rational measure, it's crystal clear we're in the middle of a jobs crisis,'' Romney said in a fundraising message to supporters. ``My priority is jobs. And from Day One of my presidency, I will lead us out of this crisis.''

Obama said the creation of 114,000 jobs in September, coupled with the drop in unemployment, was ``a reminder that this country has come too far to turn back now.'' Jabbing at his rival's plans, the president declared, "We've made too much progress to return to the policies that caused this crisis in the first place.''

... contd.

ALSO READ

Imran Khan welcomes poll outcome but alleges rigging

'Stewardess' Richard Branson fired by AirAsia chief Tony Fernandez

Egypt's Hosni Mubarak talks for 1st time since detention

Nawaz Sharif: The Lion of Punjab roars in Pakistan