GLEN ALLEN, Va. -- An unrelenting President Barack Obama jabbed at Mitt Romney's record with a private equity firm in an ad Saturday that aimed to keep his rival on the defensive just as the Republican challenger's campaign hoped to take advantage of poor economic data to gain an edge on the president.
Obama met Romney's plea for an apology for the attacks with an ad that charged that the firm shipped American jobs to China and Mexico, that Romney has personal wealth in investments in Switzerland, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, and that as Massachusetts governor, he sent state jobs to India.
"Mitt Romney's not the solution. He's the problem," the ads says as Romney is heard singing "America the Beautiful."
Pressure was building on Romney from within his own party to be more forthcoming with his finances, a day after he declared he would not release past income tax returns beyond 2010 and, before the November election, his 2011 taxes.
On the sidelines of the National Governors Association meeting in Williamsburg, Va., Republican Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama called on Romney to release the documents requested of him.
"If you have things to hide, then maybe you're doing things wrong," Bentley said. "I think you ought to be willing to release everything to the American people."
Obama, campaigning in closely contested Virginia, hewed to his middle class-centered pitch in remarks in the district represented by one of his top Republican nemeses, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. Obama attacked Romney and his GOP allies for pursuing what he called outdated and discredited economic policies.
Obama spoke to about 900 people in Glen Allen, arriving in a downpour. The president didn't dwell on Romney's business record, leaving the sharpest attacks to his campaign and the new TV ad. Still, he played up the charge that Romney and the private equity firm he founded in 1984, Bain Capital, sent jobs overseas.
"He invested in companies that have been called pioneers of outsourcing," the president said, drenched from rain. "I don't want pioneers in outsourcing, I want some in-sourcing. I want to bring companies back."
While Obama hammered Romney for a second consecutive day in Virginia, Romney spent time with his family in New Hampshire. Romney took the weekend off from public events and spent the morning at his lake house, working on his iPad on the lawn while his grandchildren played nearby. His last public event was Wednesday, and no campaign appearances were planned until Tuesday.
Romney aides began the week criticizing Obama about stubbornly high unemployment but watched their upper hand fade. Romney's advisers said Saturday that they would keep their plan and not be distracted by Obama's criticism. Romney aides declined to weigh in on Obama's latest criticism.
The intensifying attacks and the calls for greater openness came amid stepped-up attention to discrepancies between Securities and Exchange Commission filings and Romney's recollection of his role at Boston-based Bain Capital.
At stake is Romney's contention that, as an ex-businessman, he has the experience to create jobs and spur a struggling economy. The Obama campaign has countered that Romney ran a firm that pioneered the practice of sending U.S. jobs out of the country and his background is one of an investor.
Romney insists that he stepped down from his private equity firm years earlier than federal records indicate. And he demanded an apology from Obama for the attacks. "This is simply beneath the dignity of the presidency of the United States," Romney told ABC.
The Obama campaign responded with a Web video that shows Romney criticizing Obama in speeches and interviews. Romney is seen accusing the president of not understanding freedom and following an appeasement strategy in foreign affairs.
On the flight from Washington to Richmond, Obama campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said that Romney "spends a lot of time asking for apologies, but he spends a lot of time attacking."
It wasn't just Obama, though, pressuring Romney.
"There is no whining in politics," chided John Weaver, a veteran Republican strategist. "Stop demanding an apology, release your tax returns."
Obama met Romney's plea for an apology for the attacks with an ad that charged that the firm shipped American jobs to China and Mexico, that Romney has personal wealth in investments in Switzerland, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, and that as Massachusetts governor, he sent state jobs to India.
"Mitt Romney's not the solution. He's the problem," the ads says as Romney is heard singing "America the Beautiful."
Pressure was building on Romney from within his own party to be more forthcoming with his finances, a day after he declared he would not release past income tax returns beyond 2010 and, before the November election, his 2011 taxes.
On the sidelines of the National Governors Association meeting in Williamsburg, Va., Republican Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama called on Romney to release the documents requested of him.
"If you have things to hide, then maybe you're doing things wrong," Bentley said. "I think you ought to be willing to release everything to the American people."
Obama, campaigning in closely contested Virginia, hewed to his middle class-centered pitch in remarks in the district represented by one of his top Republican nemeses, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. Obama attacked Romney and his GOP allies for pursuing what he called outdated and discredited economic policies.
Obama spoke to about 900 people in Glen Allen, arriving in a downpour. The president didn't dwell on Romney's business record, leaving the sharpest attacks to his campaign and the new TV ad. Still, he played up the charge that Romney and the private equity firm he founded in 1984, Bain Capital, sent jobs overseas.
"He invested in companies that have been called pioneers of outsourcing," the president said, drenched from rain. "I don't want pioneers in outsourcing, I want some in-sourcing. I want to bring companies back."
While Obama hammered Romney for a second consecutive day in Virginia, Romney spent time with his family in New Hampshire. Romney took the weekend off from public events and spent the morning at his lake house, working on his iPad on the lawn while his grandchildren played nearby. His last public event was Wednesday, and no campaign appearances were planned until Tuesday.
Romney aides began the week criticizing Obama about stubbornly high unemployment but watched their upper hand fade. Romney's advisers said Saturday that they would keep their plan and not be distracted by Obama's criticism. Romney aides declined to weigh in on Obama's latest criticism.
The intensifying attacks and the calls for greater openness came amid stepped-up attention to discrepancies between Securities and Exchange Commission filings and Romney's recollection of his role at Boston-based Bain Capital.
At stake is Romney's contention that, as an ex-businessman, he has the experience to create jobs and spur a struggling economy. The Obama campaign has countered that Romney ran a firm that pioneered the practice of sending U.S. jobs out of the country and his background is one of an investor.
Romney insists that he stepped down from his private equity firm years earlier than federal records indicate. And he demanded an apology from Obama for the attacks. "This is simply beneath the dignity of the presidency of the United States," Romney told ABC.
The Obama campaign responded with a Web video that shows Romney criticizing Obama in speeches and interviews. Romney is seen accusing the president of not understanding freedom and following an appeasement strategy in foreign affairs.
On the flight from Washington to Richmond, Obama campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said that Romney "spends a lot of time asking for apologies, but he spends a lot of time attacking."
It wasn't just Obama, though, pressuring Romney.
"There is no whining in politics," chided John Weaver, a veteran Republican strategist. "Stop demanding an apology, release your tax returns."