President Barack Obama continues a bus tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania, hotly contested states, eager to leverage their modest economic successes into a case for his re-election.

The Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, remains at his New Hampshire vacation home amid speculation that his list of potential running mates might include a woman.

The jobless numbers promised to command attention Friday. Economists are predicting 90,000 new jobs in June, more than in May but still not enough to dent the 8.2 percent unemployment rate.

A bad employment report could damage the public’s already wavering economic confidence.

Click here to hear a report on yesterday’s Parma rally by WKSU’s Kevin Niedermier.

Mr. Obama’s 250-mile “Betting on America” bus tour is taking him through several northern Ohio communities where he received strong support in 2008. The tour also will take him into western Pennsylvania, with a stop in Pittsburgh.

Obama has released new advertising questioning Romney’s commitment to keeping jobs in America while pointing to his decision to rescue U.S. automakers, a major employer in Ohio.

Republicans are dispatching Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty to some of the same towns along Obama’s tour to offer a rebuttal.

One the President’s Thursday stops will come in the city of Parma, where he’s expected to use the city as an example of success by the U.S. auto bailout. Click the play button above for more details from WKSU’s Kevin Niedermier.