President Barack Obama is sticking up for rival Mitt Romney's wife, saying a Democrat's criticism of her was "wrong" and that the spouses of candidates should be off-limits to campaign criticism.
Obama is responding to Democrat Hilary Rosen's comment that Ann Romney should not talk about the economy because she, in Rosen's words, "hasn't worked a day in her life."
A bipartisan furor erupted and Rosen has apologized.
Obama told WCMH-TV in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday that Rosen's statement was "the wrong thing to say" and that raising children is hard work.
Ann Romney says her choice of career was to be mother to the couple's five sons.
Obama and Mitt Romney are competing for female voters, who make up a majority of the electorate.
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