Obama to sell auto bailout good news in Michigan

By CHARLES BABINGTON Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama travels to the heart of the U.S. auto industry on Friday.

The president will push an important election-year claim: his administration's unpopular auto industry bailout has turned into an economic good-news story.

With Americans facing a limping economy and potentially pivotal congressional elections in three months, the White House sees progress in the auto industry.

To highlight that progress, which presidential aides believe has received too little attention, Obama will stop at three auto plants over the next several days.