The president chose to hold his campaign rally in a tree-shaded park in the heart of downtown Mansfield. Access to the event was by ticket only. The curious - and a group of protesters - were kept several blocks away.
CHANTING: Shame on you, Barack. Shame on you, Barack.
The sign-carrying demonstrators did not explain why they were chanting that particular phrase…And it's likely the president never even saw them. Mister Obama meanwhile seemed buoyed by the sea of supporters around him…
CHANTING: Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! Four more years!
No matter who you are or what you look like or where you come from, here in America, you can make it if you try. That's what this campaign's about Ohio, and that's why I am running for a second term as president of the United States of America.
The tone of the event at first was like a pep rally. But the president got down to business focusing his remarks on the middle class. In a city that's been struggling with high unemployment, the president hammered away at Republican opponent Mitt Romney's tax cut plan which includes cuts for the wealthiest Americans.
Ohio, we do not need more tax cuts for folks who are already doing really well. We need tax cuts for working Americans. We need tax cuts for families who are trying to raise their children and keep them healthy and send them to college and put a roof over their heads.
