US President Barack Obama speaks to a crowd at a campaign event in The Oval at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, Oct 9, 2012, ending a three day campaign swing to California and Ohio. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama Tuesday assailed a tax plan proposed by Republican challenger Mitt Romney as "salesmanship" in the crucial swing state of Ohio.

On a campaign stop in Columbus, Ohio, Obama jabbed that Romney said it was fair that he paid a lower tax rate than a teacher or auto worker who makes $50,000.

"That is not leadership - that's salesmanship. We can't afford it. We can't afford to double down on top-down economics. We can't afford another round of tax cuts for the wealthy," Obama restated his criticism on Romney's five-trillion-dollar tax cut proposals.

Romney's tax cut proposals included slashing income tax rates by 20 percent, but he has not explained how to pay for these cuts without adding to the government deficit, experts said.

"That is not a jobs plan. That is not a plan to grow the economy," Obama said.

In their first presidential debate on Oct 3, Obama cited figures from the Tax Policy Center to charged that Romney's tax plan would lead to a five-trillion-dollar tax revenue loss for the government, but Romney claimed that his tax plan would not add to the deficit.

The hand (L) of US President Barack Obama is grabbed at a campaign event in The Oval at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, Oct 9, 2012, ending a three day campaign swing to California and Ohio. [Photo/Agencies]