In search of economic successes, Obama again turns to auto recovery

The resurgence of the Detroit-based American auto companies continues to be one of the few economic issues the White House feels secure talking about as President Obama turned to the issue again Tuesday in a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Asked if he was worried about the possibility of a double-dip recession after the latest jobs report showed the national unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent, the president quickly changed the subject to Detroit.

"Obviously we’re experiencing some headwinds, gas prices probably being most prominent," he said. "It has an enormous impact on family budgets and on the psychology of consumers.

"But the overall trend that we’ve seen over the last 15 months -- 2 million -- over 2 million jobs created over the past 15 months -- a rebounding of the manufacturing sector in the United States that’s exemplified by the recovery of the Big Three automakers here -- all indicates that we have set a path that will lead us to long-term economic growth," he continued.

Now that the companies have experience a turnaround in fortunes, the White House has sought to turn the federal assistance to Chrysler and General Motors that Obama was heavily criticized by Republicans for into a political winner. Chrysler said last it was it was repaying its government loans early, and General Motors said recently that it was investing $2 billion in a new plant.

After weeks of talking up the successful mission to kill terrorist Osama bin Laden, the White House has used the good fortunes of the car companies to make the case that Obama's leadership has been effective as the 2012 campaign begins in earnest.