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COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) - President Barack Obama is linking Mitt Romney and his running mate to House Republicans who Democrats blame for gridlock in Washington.
   
At a campaign rally in Iowa, Obama says Congressman Paul Ryan is among the GOP House leaders blocking a bill that he says could help farmers cope with the nation's drought. Ryan also has stops planned in Iowa today, and Obama told the crowd that if they "happen to see Congressman Ryan," they should tell him how important the farm bill is to Iowa and rural communities.
   
Democrats and Republicans in Congress are at odds over farm subsidies and food stamps included in the farm bill. Ryan is among the GOP lawmakers backing cuts in food stamp programs.
   
Meanwhile, Romney is defending Ryan's budget proposals for Medicare. Speaking to voters in Florida, the Republican candidate says he and Ryan want to "preserve and protect Medicare," while charging president cut the program by $700 billion with his health care law.
   
Vice President Joe Biden is also weighing in on Ryan. He criticized his GOP counterpart today at a campaign rally in North Carolina, saying Ryan wants to privatize Social Security, gut Medicare and Medicaid and give tax breaks to millionaires.