Republicans dismiss President Obama’s visit to Alcoa as a political stunt designed to obscure his record on the economy. 

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus says the 2012 election will be all about jobs.

“It’s going to become painfully obvious that the only job the president is interested in saving is his own and that’s why he’s in Iowa today.” Priebus says. “He’s in Iowa today because he is interested in saving his job.” 

Matt Strawn, chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, says the “political ground” has shifted in Iowa since Obama won the state in 2008.

“The number one thing I hear from employers in Iowa when it comes to creating jobs is that they cannot tell you what the cost will be to their business of implementing ObamaCare,” Strawn says. “And that is the chief impediment to hiring here in Iowa.” 

Strawn and Preibus made their comments a few hours before Obama’s arrival, during a conference call with reporters.

Radio Iowa