'MAGICAL MISERY BUS TOUR'

Romney mocks Obama 'Magical Misery Tour'

LITCHFIELD, N.H. -- Mitt Romney slammed President Barack Obama in advance of the president's bus tour of midwestern states Monday, derisively calling it the "Magical Misery Tour," a play on the iconic 1967 Beatles album "Magical Mystery Tour."

Romney, the current national frontrunner for the GOP nomination, continued to execute his campaign strategy of hammering the president while virtually ignoring his two most salient Republican rivals for the nomination --Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

"During his Magical Misery bus tour this week, it is unlikely President Obama will speak with unemployed Americans, to near-bankrupt business owners, or to families struggling to survive in this economy," the campaign said in a statement released prior to Obama's arrival in Minnesota Monday.

"He is more interested in campaigning in swing states than working to solve the economic crisis that is crushing the middle class," it continued. "Turning this economy around will require real leadership and the experience of someone who has actually worked in the private sector."

While the president embarks on a 3-day tour of three midwestern states that will take him to Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois, Romney was back in New Hampshire Monday after a two-day trip to Iowa last week.

The former Massachusetts governor was due to tour a business in Litchfield, N.H., before holding an economic roundtable in Plymouth, N.H.

While the White House says Obama's tour is a chance to let the president hear stories from real Americans across the country who are suffering from the effects of a slumping economy, Romney unveiled a web video treating the president to some unfavorable welcomes from Minnesota voters.

The ad entitled "Obama isn't working, Minnesota," features a series of Minnesotans speaking to the camera about their disappointment with the president's policies.

Obama's approval rating hit an all-time low in Gallup's daily tracking poll over the weekend, with only 39 percent of Americans approving of his job performance.

The poll marked the first time that Obama fell below the 40 percent threshold in Gallup's survey since becoming president, the result of a slumping economy, stubbornly high unemployment numbers and a recent bruising battle with Republicans in Congress to raise the nation's debt ceiling.