Johnston, Iowa (AP) -
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the Midwest's strong farm economy should give President Barack Obama an advantage as he seeks a second term.
Speaking Friday on the Iowa Public Television program, "Iowa Press," Vilsack noted that farm income and commodity prices are both strong and likely will remain that way for the rest of the year. Vilsack says Obama can take some credit for those trends, which the secretary says could be crucial in an election where several Midwest states are seen as swing states that could back either the president or likely Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
The former Iowa governor says one of his jobs this year will be reminding people how well the farm economy is doing and Obama's role in that success.