Obama: I need to do a better job of inspiring

[July 13, 2012]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The president who ran on hope says he needs to do a better job of inspiring the public if he wins a second term.

President Barack Obama says in an interview with "CBS This Morning" host Charlie Rose that the "mistake" of his first term was, in his words, "thinking that this job was just about getting the policy right."

Obama said Thursday that the presidency demands telling a story to the American people "that gives them a sense of unity and purpose and optimism, especially during tough times."

He says it is legitimate criticism that he wasn't telling the public where he's going and says he needs to do a better job of that in his second term.

Obama faces Republican Mitt Romney in the election. Romney says in a statement that Obama believes millions of Americans have lost their homes, jobs and livelihood because, in Romney's words, "he failed to tell a good story."

Romney says being president is not about telling stories but about leading.

The interview conducted Thursday will air on CBS this week.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.