President Obama, Mitt Romney push economic themes in key states

United States President Barack Obama is launching a tough new tax-equality pitch in a TV ad asserting Republican rival Mitt Romney’s economic proposals would mean cuts for the wealthiest Americans and higher bills for everyone else. Former governor Romney struck back with a new spot timed to the president’s appearance on Thursday in Florida, calling the president a “disappointment” for a statewide economic picture that has not improved under his watch.

Obama’s ad will air in eight states, including the two the president was visiting on Thursday, citing a report by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center that argues Romney has paid a lower proportion of his income in taxes than many people of lesser means. The ad says, “He pays less, you pay more.” The ads air as a bitterly divided Congress pushes toward summer vacation with votes that center on key issues like taxes and spending, which are symbolic place-holders for November’s election.