(CNN) -- President Barack Obama began a three-day blitz of Iowa on Monday, August 13th. The state ignited his 2008 primary charge against Hillary Clinton and later handed him a 10-point victory over Sen. John McCain.
In remarks in Council Bluffs, Obama addressed the ongoing drought affecting nearly half of the continental United States, saying it is time for Congress to act on passing drought relief for farmers and ranchers whose livelihoods are on the line.
Obama specifically called out Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's newly-appointed running mate Paul Ryan, saying he and others in Congress are stalling for political gain.
"I am told that Gov. Romney's new running mate Paul Ryan will be around Iowa in the next few days, and he is one of the congressmen standing in the way," Obama told the crowd. "So if you happen to see Congressman Ryan, tell him how important this farm bill is to Iowa and the rural communities, because we have to put politics aside when it comes to doing the right thing for rural America and for Iowa."
Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Ryan, responded that, "No one will work harder to defend farmers and ranchers than the Romney-Ryan ticket."
Obama's seven-city tour, lasting through Wednesday, will include stops in Council Bluffs, Boone, Oskaloosa, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Dubuque and Davenport.