SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The head of the Democratic Governors Association is accusing GOP debt negotiators in Washington of trying to damage the economy so President Barack Obama will lose next year's election.

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Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley tells The Associated Press that Republicans are trying to steer the government toward default or higher unemployment so voters will blame Obama for a bad economy.

A Republican spokesman calls O'Malley's remarks a partisan rant.

He says moderate Republicans should call on GOP congressional leaders to make a deal to raise the government's borrowing limit before an Aug. 2 deadline to avoid a federal default.

O'Malley spoke on the sidelines of the National Governors Association meeting in Salt Lake City.