Romney,Obama trade barbs

Rick Santorum,the former senator who had struggled under the negative advertising barrage by the better-financed and organised Romney,left the Republican race on Tuesday.

Mitt Romney,freed of his last serious challenger for the Republican presidential nomination,unleashed blistering attacks on President Barack Obama,assuring a brutal tone for the coming half-year of campaigning before the November election.

Rick Santorum,the former senator who had struggled under the negative advertising barrage by the better-financed and organised Romney,left the Republican race on Tuesday.

Romney,the wealthy former Massachusetts governor making his second presidential bid,intensified a full-throated assault on Obama within hours of Santorums departure. Romney portrayed Obama as a weak leader who apologises for Americas greatness and prefers European-style socialism over robust free enterprise. Obamas allies call such claims nonsense.

The right course for America is not to divide America, Romney said near Philadelphia. Thats what hes doing. His campaign is all about finding Americans to blame and attack,and find someone to tax more.

Romney made it clear that he would assault Obamas character as well,saying the president is not inept at economic policy,but he actively dislikes business.

Obama for his part said the choice this November will be as stark as in the 1964 contest between Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater,which resulted in one of the biggest Democratic landslides ever.

Obama didnt mention Romney by name,but his top aides have shown less restraint. Obama campaign manager Jim Messina said: Its no surprise that Mitt Romney finally was able to grind down his opponents under an avalanche of negative ads. The more the American people see of Mitt Romney,the less they like him.

Romney gets Jindal backing for top job

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Indian-American Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has extended his support to Mitt Romney,who is expected to bag the Republican Partys nomination for presidential polls. Congratulations to Governor Romney on winning a hard fought race,I look forward to supporting him in retiring President Obama, Jindal said in a statement. Jindal had initially endorsed Rick Perry,the Governor of neighbouring Texas. US media has named Jindal among the list of possible vice-presidential running mates of Romney.