WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says the nation needs a Federal Reserve chairman who can continue making progress fixing the economy, and he is championing embattled Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke as that candidate.
Obama defended his pick for the Fed in an interview Monday with ABC News, saying, quote: “He has my strongest support. I think he’s done a good job.”
Critics from both parties emerged in recent weeks, saying Bernanke was part of the problem as the economy tanked. But the White House says it has confidence in Bernanke and the criticism has waned.
Bernanke first won the job under Republican President George W. Bush. Bernanke’s term expires Jan. 31.
