14 June 2012
Last updated at 16:03 GMT
Romney and Obama face off in Ohio
US President Barack Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney bring their economic messages to voters in Ohio with back-to-back speeches.Obama and Romney in Ohio speech showdown
US President Barack Obama and his Republican opponent Mitt Romney are to use back-to-back speeches in the battleground state of Ohio to outline their plans for the US economy.The Ohio showdown comes as Mr Romney and the Republicans have intensified their criticism of the president.
He has been lambasted by Republicans for saying "the private sector is doing fine" in a news conference last week.
No Republican president has won without Ohio, which Mr Obama won by 5% in 2008.
Mr Obama and Mr Romney will face each other in November's general election.
Mr Obama will speak at a community college near Cleveland at 13:45 (17:45 GMT) before moving on to New York City, where he is scheduled to appear at a fundraising event alongside actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
Moments after Mr Obama, Mr Romney will speak at a campaign stop in Cincinnati, part of a five-day bus tour through the Buckeye State.
'Cheap words' Correspondents say Thursday's speech is being framed by the Obama team as an opportunity to "reset" the president's campaign, which has faltered in recent weeks.
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Mitt Romney Republican presidential nomineeMy own view is that he will speak eloquently, but that words are cheap”
At the beginning of June, a key US unemployment report showed less-than-expected private sector hiring for the second consecutive month.Democrats then lost a closely-watched special election to replace the governor of Wisconsin, before it was confirmed that Mr Romney and the Republicans raised nearly $17m (£11m) more than Mr Obama during May.
The president's news conference remark that the private sector was "doing fine" was quickly seized upon by his opponents, forcing a swift clarification from Mr Obama. It was "absolutely clear that the economy is not doing fine", he said.
Republican rivals have used it as the basis of social media attacks, with the Romney campaign releasing a TV ad ahead of Thursday's speeches.A Romney campaign ad highlights Obama's "doing fine" remark
The Romney campaign video replays Mr Obama's recent "gaffe" against a backdrop of figures highlighting the unemployment situation and the economy.
Correspondents say the campaigns and groups that support them have spent more money on advertising in Ohio than in any other state: a total of $1.3m each, the Associated Press reports.
On Wednesday, Mr Romney attacked Mr Obama's economic record during a speech at a business roundtable in Washington, DC.
"You're going to see him change course when he speaks tomorrow, where he will acknowledge that it isn't going so well," Mr Romney said.
"My own view is that he will speak eloquently, but that words are cheap."
While latest opinion polls show the two candidates neck-and-neck analysts say that with 18 electoral votes, victory in Ohio is vital to win the White House.
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COPY : http://www.bbc.co.uk/Battlegrounds 2012
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