President Obama kicked off his campaign tour in Iowa and was quick to claim Republican Vice President Paul D Ryan is "standing in the way" by blocking aid for farmers and ranchers affected by the on-going drought.

President Obama is spending three days in Iowa in a bid to ramp up support in the state, which helped his presidential bid in 2008.

President Obama said: "We have got to put politics aside when it comes to doing the right thing for rural America and for Iowa."

Paul Ryan was recently chosen by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for the Republican vice presidential slot.

Vice President Ryan criticised the President Obama on a wide range of issues, including government spending to the nation's energy policy.