Obama tells Mich. crowd schools must control costs

Democrats, however, said Romney would have let the U.S. automakers fail and said the presidential candidate was trying to distract from progress in Michigan, including a lower unemployment rate as the manufacturing sector has improved.

"The president invested in our state and our people, and we are seeing the economy turn around and improve because of his policies, and no Romney campaign spin can change that fact," said Mark Brewer, chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party.

In Ann Arbor, the crowd was largely supportive. Hours before the address, students lined up in freezing temperatures to get inside. They chanted "Go Blue!" as they waited for the president and cheered when he called out Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, who was on hand.

"I hear you're coming back, man," Obama said. "That is a good deal for Michigan."

Associated Press writer Kathy Barks Hoffman in Lansing contributed to this report.