Obama boosts re-election drive at car show

US President Barack Obama has taken a swipe at opponents, saying they would have let the US auto industry die.

He made the comments on a visit to an auto show in Washington on Tuesday to highlight his rescue of iconic US car firms.

Obama toured the exhibition and inspected 15 gleaming new electric and hybrid vehicles made by Ford, Dodge (a Chrysler brand) and General Motors.

"When you look at all these cars, it is testimony to the outstanding work that's been done by workers - American workers, American designers," Obama said.

"The fact that GM is back, number one, I think shows the kind of turnaround that's possible when it comes to American manufacturing," said the president, who favours using government in some cases to create conditions for jobs growth.

"It's good to remember that ... there were some folks who were willing to let this industry die.

"Because of folks coming together, we are now back in a place where we can compete with any car company in the world."

"And these are not only selling here in the United States, they also serve as a platform for us to sell product all around the world."

Obama's comments appeared to be a swipe at Republican presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney over his initial criticism of the idea of shoring up iconic auto giants General Motors and Chrysler with federal funds.

President Obama argues that his federal funding and bankruptcy plan for the two firms, inherited from former president George W Bush, saved the US auto industry.

Obama is sure to stress the auto bailout when he campaigns for re-election in the industrial midwest, especially in Michigan, the state where Romney grew up as the son of an auto executive.

Romney, apparently seeking to capitalise on public fatigue with bailouts, argued that the firms should have gone through bankruptcy - which they later did - without a prior cash injection which eventually hit $US82 billion (about $A78 billion).

Obama signed off on the risky and unpopular bailout, seeking to save thousands of jobs, after concluding that if GM and Chrysler had failed, the entire auto parts support industry, as well as a third firm Ford could have also gone under.