CORAL GABLES, Florida (Reuters) - President Barack Obama accused Republicans on Monday of peddling “snake oil” in their campaigns to gain power in Congress on November 2 and urged Democrats to get motivated about the elections.

President Barack Obama visits El Mago de las Fritas restaurant in Miami after attending a democratic fundraiser October 11, 2010. REUTERS/Larry Downing

Obama appeared at two Democratic fund-raisers that raised $1 million at the seaside home of former NBA basketball star Alonzo Mourning. The crowd included such NBA luminaries as Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh and former player Magic Johnson.

In a pair of speeches, Obama singled out the “Pledge to America,” a list of priorities House Republicans say they will pursue if they win control of the House in the elections.

He said a Republican push for an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans would include $700 billion for wealthier citizens, money he said would be better spent helping to bolster the sagging U.S. economy.

Obama wants to limit the tax cuts to families making under $250,000 a year and a fierce partisan battle is being waged over their future. “They are peddling the same snake oil as they were peddling before,” Obama said.

Obama is traveling around the United States trying to whip up enthusiasm among Democrats with polls showing Republicans are poised to pick up seats on November 2, possibly gaining control of the House and challenging Democratic command of the Senate.

“We’ve got a long ways to go,” he said. “We can’t get there without you.”

With a big basketball presence in the audience, Obama used a sports metaphor to describe his predicament. He said he is a powerful player himself, but needs other like-minded position players to help him pursue his agenda.

“I’m pretty good, I’m a pretty good point guard, but I can’t do it on my own,” he said. “On every important issue out there I am going to need help.”

Obama criticized his Republican opponents for opposing his policies. He said Americans are understandably angry and frustrated at the economy, but instead of helping, Republicans are “trying to ride that anger and that frustration all the way to the ballot box.”