WASHINGTON (AP) — Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley says the nation is not better off than it was four years ago.

And he blamed Republican policies in appearances Sunday on CBS’ “Face the Nation” and CNN’s “State of the Union.” CBS’ Bob Schieffer asked O’Malley if he could honestly say people are better off today than four years ago. The Democratic governor said without a doubt the nation is not as well off as before job losses and deficits he blamed on the Republican Bush administration.

O’Malley, who heads the Democratic Governors Association, has made frequent national television appearances this year in support of the Obama campaign.

Republicans, meanwhile, seized on the comments. GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan issued a statement afterward saying O’Malley’s comments were more proof that Obama’s policies aren’t working.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)