ROANOKE, Va. (November 1, 2012)—GOP presidential challenger Mitt Romney said Thursday President Barack Obama doesn't have a clue about how business works and he also took aim at Mr. Obama for suggesting the creation of a secretary of business.

“We don't need a secretary of business to understand business. We need a president who understands business,” he said.

Romney's words echo a television ad that his campaign started airing Thursday.

Mr. Obama has floated the idea of the new post as a way to consolidate nine agencies that now deal with business matters, and as a way to eliminate bureaucracy, calling it a "one-stop shop" for business owners.

Romney appeared at Integrity Windows in Roanoke, Va., which is owned by a family that Mr. Obama praised during his convention speech.