[h=3]By LAURA MECKLER[/h]RICHMOND, Va.—President Barack Obama dove into the second half of a cross-country campaign trip that is taking him to eight states over two days, including a stop in Chicago where he will cast his own ballot, the first time a president has voted early.
APPresident Barack Obama greeted supporters on the tarmac at Richmond International Airport Thursday.
Mr. Obama and his campaign, in pursuit of women's votes, continued Thursday to draw attention to Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock's comments that even in cases when pregnancies result from rape, "that it is something that God intended to happen."
"I think we've seen again this week, I don't think any male politicians should be making health-care decisions for women," Mr. Obama told a packed crowd estimated at 15,000 by local fire officials. He made the same point at his first event of the day, an early-morning rally in Tampa, Fla. "Women can make those decisions themselves," he said.
The president, his voice hoarse, is midway through the most intense campaign swing this year. On a red-eye flight aboard Air Force One Wednesday night, he slept—perhaps for a few hours—in the twin bed provided for the president. His staff was left to sprawl on the floor or in their seats.
He was ending the day in Ohio, his second trip to the Buckeye State in three days. He plans to return there Monday.
Meanwhile, GOP rival Mitt Romney barnstormed Ohio Thursday, with three campaign events scheduled across the state. He kicked off his day with an unscheduled drop by at First Watch restaurant in Cincinnati, where he greeted diners and restaurant staff along with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.
As Mr. Romney picked up his omelet with peppers and onions, breakfast potatoes and grits, he ignored reporters' questions about Mr. Mourdock's controversial comments about rape. Mr. Romney recently taped a TV ad endorsing Mr. Mourdock that is airing in Indiana.
The Obama rallies feature an extended riff that Mr. Romney seems to be forgetting his past positions. The line is now so familiar that the crowds on Thursday yelled out "Romnesia" before the president had the chance to accuse his rival of contracting that made-up condition.
But after a heavy dose of Romney attacks, Mr. Obama is ending his speeches with a more uplifting message, saying that his campaign stands for the notion that "we're all created equal."
"Everybody has a voice in America," he said in Richmond. "It doesn't matter who you are, or what you look like, or where you come from, or who you love. Black or white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, young, old, rich, poor, gay, straight, able or disabled, it doesn't matter!...That's what's best in our country! That's what we're fighting for!"
The packed Obama schedule is an indication of just how close this race is, with Obama campaign aides expressing confidence in their position in the race but acknowledging it is very close and could tip either way.
Polls have seen Mr. Romney gain ground in the last few weeks, putting him a bit ahead in many national polls and neck-and-neck in several battleground states that will decide the race. The Romney campaign said Thursday that it raised nearly $112 million with the help of the Republican Party during the first half of October and has $169 million in cash left to spend.
Mr. Obama was headed next to Ohio—hitting the three biggest battlegrounds in one day. He will also cast his own early ballot in Chicago, looking to generate enthusiasm among his supporters for early voting in the many states that now allow it.
He joked that he cannot say who he plans to vote for but, "the good news is Michelle said she voted for me."
Also Thursday, the Obama campaign said that Mr. Obama would campaign on Monday with former President Bill Clinton, the campaign's most powerful surrogate. The pair will headline rallies in the same three states Mr. Obama is visiting on Thursday, with stops in Orlando, Fla.; Youngstown, Ohio; and Prince William County, Va.
And the campaign touted an endorsement from Colin Powell, who served as President George W. Bush's first secretary of State. "I signed on for a long patrol with President Obama, and I don't think this is the time to make such a sudden change," he said on CBS. He praised Mr. Obama's performance on the economy, energy, health-care policy and national security.
"The actions he's taken with respect to protecting us from terrorism have been very, very solid," said Mr. Powell, a retired four-star general. And he was critical of Mr. Romney's approach. "Sometimes I don't sense that he has thought through these issues as thoroughly as he should have."
Obama campaign officials said they didn't know the endorsement was coming and said Mr. Obama called Gen. Powell early Thursday to thank him.
Both campaigns believe it is domestic issues that will decide the race. Mr. Obama enjoys far more support with women than he does with men, and his campaign has long worked to highlight women's issues from both an economic and health care point of view. In that sense, they saw Mr. Mourdock's controversial comments as yet another data point supporting their argument that Republicans cannot be trusted with women's health care.
"You know this is a close election and every little thing has some impact," said White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer.
Mr. Mourdock drew bipartisan fire after saying during a debate this week that "even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something God intended to happen." Mr. Romney has endorsed Mr. Mourdock, cutting a TV ad for him. The Romney campaign said Mr. Romney disagrees with Mr. Mourdock on this issue but still supports him.
While abortion is highly controversial, many opponents believe there should be exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape and incest, as well as to save the life of the mother.
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APPresident Barack Obama greeted supporters on the tarmac at Richmond International Airport Thursday.
Mr. Obama and his campaign, in pursuit of women's votes, continued Thursday to draw attention to Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock's comments that even in cases when pregnancies result from rape, "that it is something that God intended to happen."
"I think we've seen again this week, I don't think any male politicians should be making health-care decisions for women," Mr. Obama told a packed crowd estimated at 15,000 by local fire officials. He made the same point at his first event of the day, an early-morning rally in Tampa, Fla. "Women can make those decisions themselves," he said.
The president, his voice hoarse, is midway through the most intense campaign swing this year. On a red-eye flight aboard Air Force One Wednesday night, he slept—perhaps for a few hours—in the twin bed provided for the president. His staff was left to sprawl on the floor or in their seats.
He was ending the day in Ohio, his second trip to the Buckeye State in three days. He plans to return there Monday.
Meanwhile, GOP rival Mitt Romney barnstormed Ohio Thursday, with three campaign events scheduled across the state. He kicked off his day with an unscheduled drop by at First Watch restaurant in Cincinnati, where he greeted diners and restaurant staff along with Ohio Sen. Rob Portman.
As Mr. Romney picked up his omelet with peppers and onions, breakfast potatoes and grits, he ignored reporters' questions about Mr. Mourdock's controversial comments about rape. Mr. Romney recently taped a TV ad endorsing Mr. Mourdock that is airing in Indiana.
The Obama rallies feature an extended riff that Mr. Romney seems to be forgetting his past positions. The line is now so familiar that the crowds on Thursday yelled out "Romnesia" before the president had the chance to accuse his rival of contracting that made-up condition.
But after a heavy dose of Romney attacks, Mr. Obama is ending his speeches with a more uplifting message, saying that his campaign stands for the notion that "we're all created equal."
"Everybody has a voice in America," he said in Richmond. "It doesn't matter who you are, or what you look like, or where you come from, or who you love. Black or white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, young, old, rich, poor, gay, straight, able or disabled, it doesn't matter!...That's what's best in our country! That's what we're fighting for!"
The packed Obama schedule is an indication of just how close this race is, with Obama campaign aides expressing confidence in their position in the race but acknowledging it is very close and could tip either way.
Polls have seen Mr. Romney gain ground in the last few weeks, putting him a bit ahead in many national polls and neck-and-neck in several battleground states that will decide the race. The Romney campaign said Thursday that it raised nearly $112 million with the help of the Republican Party during the first half of October and has $169 million in cash left to spend.
Mr. Obama was headed next to Ohio—hitting the three biggest battlegrounds in one day. He will also cast his own early ballot in Chicago, looking to generate enthusiasm among his supporters for early voting in the many states that now allow it.
He joked that he cannot say who he plans to vote for but, "the good news is Michelle said she voted for me."
Also Thursday, the Obama campaign said that Mr. Obama would campaign on Monday with former President Bill Clinton, the campaign's most powerful surrogate. The pair will headline rallies in the same three states Mr. Obama is visiting on Thursday, with stops in Orlando, Fla.; Youngstown, Ohio; and Prince William County, Va.
And the campaign touted an endorsement from Colin Powell, who served as President George W. Bush's first secretary of State. "I signed on for a long patrol with President Obama, and I don't think this is the time to make such a sudden change," he said on CBS. He praised Mr. Obama's performance on the economy, energy, health-care policy and national security.
"The actions he's taken with respect to protecting us from terrorism have been very, very solid," said Mr. Powell, a retired four-star general. And he was critical of Mr. Romney's approach. "Sometimes I don't sense that he has thought through these issues as thoroughly as he should have."
Obama campaign officials said they didn't know the endorsement was coming and said Mr. Obama called Gen. Powell early Thursday to thank him.
Both campaigns believe it is domestic issues that will decide the race. Mr. Obama enjoys far more support with women than he does with men, and his campaign has long worked to highlight women's issues from both an economic and health care point of view. In that sense, they saw Mr. Mourdock's controversial comments as yet another data point supporting their argument that Republicans cannot be trusted with women's health care.
"You know this is a close election and every little thing has some impact," said White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer.
Mr. Mourdock drew bipartisan fire after saying during a debate this week that "even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something God intended to happen." Mr. Romney has endorsed Mr. Mourdock, cutting a TV ad for him. The Romney campaign said Mr. Romney disagrees with Mr. Mourdock on this issue but still supports him.
While abortion is highly controversial, many opponents believe there should be exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape and incest, as well as to save the life of the mother.
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