Obama and Romney both visit Ohio

Ohio was a presidential battleground today, with president Obama and presumptive presidential candidate Mitt Romney both making campaign appearances.The president told supporters in Cleveland that this election offers a chance to break a stalemate in Washington.

BO: "I believe we need a plan for better education and training... and for energy independence and for new research and innovation.  for rebuilding our infrastructure.  For a tax code that creates jobs in America and pays down our debt in a way that's balanced.  if you believe this economy grows best when everybody gets a fair shot and everybody does their fair share and everybody plays by the same set of rules, then I ask you to stand with me for a second term as president."

Obama says the gridlock on Capitol Hill doesn't necessarily reflect voters views.  And he urged people of all parties to pressure on their politicians to work with their colleagues in Congress.  

BO:  "At a moment this big, a moment when so many people are still struggling, I think you deserve a real debate about the economic plans we are proposing."

He was critical of his opponents vision of America, and his plan for achieving it.  Ironically, that was the same message Mitt Romney was sending this morning in Cincinnati.  For Ohio Public Radio, WVXU's Tana Weingartner has more on Romney's visit.

Seilkop Industries owner Ken Seilkop choked back tears as he introduced Governor Romney to a crowd gathered in his tool and die manufacturing plant. Seilkop employs a hundred people around Cincinnati and Romney opened by slamming President Obama for making things harder for small businesses.

MR: "That stimulus didn't put more private sector people to work.  How about Obamacare?  The president said the other day that he didn't know that Obama care was hard for small businesses.  Oh really?"

Romney also criticized the president’s energy policies and the Dodd-Frank bill. Jamie Cusick of Amberly Village says she’s inspired by the former Massachusetts governor..

JC: "He has all the right ideas.  I'm so afraid we're going to lose our American Dream.  Where will we go for the opportunities, the endless opportunities that our country offers.  There's nowhere else but America where you can come and start a business like this.  And I feel like Governor Romney is going to preserve that."