HUDSON — Sen. Kelly Ayotte and State Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley stressed the importance of small business to the economy during a visit to Gilchrist Metal Fabricating on Park Avenue on Friday morning.

Ayotte said the country needs to support small business across the country.

“Those are the people in this country who are going to get the economy moving,” she said. Instead, Ayotte said, President Barack Obama has created a regulatory climate the makes it difficult for small businesses to run and hampers the ability to create jobs. She blamed Obama for the unemployment rate staying above 8 percent for 42 months.

“That's a far cry from where the Obama administration said we'd be, below 6 percent unemployment, if we passed the President's massive stimulus package,” Ayotte said.

The good news, Ayotte said, is that new leadership is on the way.

Mitt Romney has business experience and will cut the red tape to provide a climate where small businesses thrive and grow, Ayotte said. Together, Romney and his vice presidential pick, Rep. Paul Ryan, present a stark contrast to the President, she said.

Bradley said he welcomes Obama to New Hampshire today. While visiting, Bradley said, Obama should look out his window at gas prices nearing $4 and visit small businesses that want to expand but are stopped by uncertain health care costs. The President should also talk to average people, including the 20 million who Republicans claim will lose health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act, Bradley said.

“Tell them the truth Mr. President,” Bradley said.

Instead, Bradley said, voters will hear the A-B-Cs of the Obama campaign — attack Republicans, blame George Bush, and confuse the voters.

He called for a robust debate on Medicare, the future of Social Security and other critical issues.

The Obama campaign said that the President has cut taxes for small businesses 18 times and the average middle class family in New Hampshire saw its taxes cut by $4,200 during his first term. The President's $716 billion in Medicare savings did not cut benefits and health care reform is extending the life of Medicare by eight years, according to the Obama campaign.

After speaking, the pair toured the plant with owner Jack Gilchrist. Gilchrist was featured in Mitt Romney's “These Hands” TV ad, made in response to President Obama's “You didn't build this” remark.

jhanson@newstote.com