GOSHEN — The bus rolled in, Americans For Prosperity rep Chase Downham took his place in front of the vehicle and the broadsides against President Obama began.

“The president can certainly say that he’s trying, but he can’t say his policies are working,” said Downham, director of AFP’s Indiana office.

The conservative group notes that unemployment has exceeded 8 percent for 43 straight months, among other things, and wants to spread the word ahead of Election Day about what it views as the president’s failing agenda. Indeed, the stop Tuesday in the parking lot outside Meijer in Goshen was part of AFP’s Obama’s Failing Agenda bus tour of Indiana. And the big brown bus on hand was emblazoned with a picture of the president and a bulleted list of what it says are the president’s “failures.”

Aside from continuing unemployment, the group cites what it says is the national debt of $16 trillion and granting of federal economic stimulus funding to green-energy companies like Solyndra, which went belly up after getting money. The criticism extends to Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, the 2nd District representative from Indiana locked in an intense battle with GOPer Richard Mourdock for the U.S. Senate.

“The government cannot create lasting prosperity or lasting wealth,” Downham told the group, touting the group’s small government, low taxes, pro-business message. He made no mention of GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and afterward, was careful to note that the group doesn’t specifically endorse particular political candidates.

Around 25 to 30 people attended, including leaders from the Elkhart County tea party movement, and the task of spreading the AFP word, Downham told them, is in their hands. He noted the AFP phone banking system, which can even be used at home, and the need for door-to-door canvassing.

The message struck a chord with Norman Miller of Middlebury, one of the attendees. “I’m concerned if (Obama) gets back in. If he continues to do his policies, we’re done for. He’s a socialist,” Miller said.

Bill Rohman of Elkhart, also on hand, said conservatives and Christians “have been under attack ... for a long time. It’s time for the Christians to stand up.”

He continued, blasting liberals. “Now we got the liberals literally wanting the government to run everything and run our lives,” he said. “They’re trying to take away the freedoms.”

The AFP tour in Indiana was to stop in 12 cities across the state between Tuesday and Tuesday. It is part of other AFP tours across the nation leading up to the Nov. 6 vote.