WASHINGTON — Determined to keep showing the economy is on his mind, President Barack Obama is dashing into Ohio for the groundbreaking of a road project, hoping to remind the nation that the massive, costly stimulus act is still churning out jobs.
Millions of unemployed people have yet to feel the relief.
Obama was to be on the ground in Ohio for only about 90 minutes Friday, long enough to celebrate what the White House calls a significant moment: the start of the 10,000th road project launched under the recovery act. The president's message is that a summer season of more help is on the way.
Rather than delegating the symbolic occasion to someone, Obama is going to display a consistent, public focus on the matter people care about most. The economy remains the top worry of Americans this election year, people are glum about the country's direction, and unemployment hovers close to double digits.
The oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is consuming Obama's time. He calls it his singular focus, even as he has described economic recovery his top task, too.
Obama's transportation secretary, Ray LaHood, said the personal attention to the stimulus milestone is important.
