DURHAM, N.C. — President Barack Obama promoted job creation Monday in politically important North Carolina. Obama is trying to assure Americans he’s focused on their No. 1 concern — and his greatest political weakness — as his potential GOP presidential opponents prepared to target his economic policies in their first major debate.
Speaking at an energy-efficient-lighting plant in Durham, Obama called for training more engineers as a means to boost long-term economic growth. He sought simultaneously to reassure businesses about his administration’s policies and try to instill some optimism in voters despite dismal recent economic reports.
His remarks also served as a counterpoint to gathering political opposition represented by seven Republican 2012 potential presidential candidates who hope to limit Obama to one term.
“Today, the single most serious economic problem we face is getting people back to work,” the president said. “We stabilized the economy, we prevented a financial meltdown and an economy that was shrinking is now growing. . . . But, I’m still not satisfied. I will not be satisfied until everyone who wants a good job that offers some security has a good job that offers security.
“I am optimistic about our future,” the president said, while acknowledging “we can’t be complacent.”
Obama announced a program to train 10,000 new American engineers every year through a public-private partnership.
Before his remarks to workers at Cree Inc., the president met with a group of business leaders involved in a jobs council he created. They aired concerns about everything from difficulty getting small-business loans to regulatory burdens on airlines, and the president pledged to do what he could to help as his administration aims to breathe life into the faltering economic recovery.
