WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama accused his Republican opponents on Monday of playing election-year politics by refusing to join with Democrats in approving an extension of U.S. jobless benefits.

Obama, under pressure to reduce the 9.5 percent U.S. jobless rate, sought to direct some of Americans' frustration over the sputtering economy toward the Republicans, who are hoping for big gains in November 2 congressional elections.
In Rose Garden remarks, Obama said Republicans have opposed a $34 billion extension of benefits for the unemployed in this instance but had voted for such extensions when Republican President George W. Bush had asked for them.
Republicans say they would support the benefits but want them to be paid for with spending cuts instead of simply using borrowed money that adds to the ballooning U.S. national debt.
""It's time to stop holding workers laid off in this recession hostage to Washington politics. It's time to do what's right, not for the next election, but for the middle class,"" Obama said with three unemployed workers joining him on the steps of the Rose Garden.
""There are times when you put elections aside,"" he added. ""This is one of those times.""
Democrats hold a 58-41 advantage over Republicans in the chamber, but need 60 votes to overcome parliamentary blocking maneuvers. Their 59th vote will come on Tuesday when West Virginia Democrat Carte Goodwin is sworn in to fill the vacancy left by the death of Democratic Senator Robert Byrd.
Democrats are expected to get favorable votes from two Maine Republicans, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, while losing Nebraska Democratic Senator Ben Nelson.
A swearing-in ceremony for Goodwin was set for 2:15 p.m./1815 GMT on Tuesday, with a procedural vote on the unemployment benefits 15 minutes later. Final passage is likely later in the day, a Democratic aide said.
The House of Representatives is expected to approve the measure later in the week and send it to Obama to sign into law.
Senate Republicans have argued that the $34 billion cost of extending benefits through November could be covered by cutting other programs.