(CBS News) In the key battleground state of Ohio, President Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney made competing remarks just minutes apart on the number issue of the campaign: The economy.
Mr. Obama, speaking in the Democratic stronghold of Cleveland, and Romney, speaking in heavily Republican Cincinnati, outlined their visions of the economy but also attempted to define their opponent as being harmful to the recovery.
At Cuyahoga Community College, the president said, "If they win the election, the agenda will be simple and straight forward." He said Romney and a Republican Congress would reduce the government "to a few basic functions," cut regulations and cut taxes, which he said would be harmful to the national deficit.
"Mr. Romney is qualified to deliver on that plan," the president said.
Romney, meanwhile, noted the president's "eloquence," but said "talk is cheap."
"Action speaks very loud. And if you want to see the results of his economic policies, look around Ohio, look around the country, you'll see a lot of people are hurting," Romney said.
Romney said he would increase trade, call out China for manipulating its currency and increase domestic oil, coal and gas production.
"I can guarantee you if I'm president on day one, we're going to get the approval for that pipeline from Canada, and if I have to build it myself to get it here, I'll get that oil into America," Romney said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Obama touted what he called his "different vision for America," saying he would invest in education, research and development and renewable energy.
The president also reiterated his call to raise taxes on the "wealthiest Americans."
"If you really want to get the deficit under control, the tax code has to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more," he said, noting that Romney's plan includes cutting $5 trillion worth of taxes.
As both campaigns were so close to each other, the campaigns showed up at each other's events.Romney's bus, with the Romney campaign log, circled the site of the president's speech.
Both campaigns are likely to visit Ohio numerous times this campaign season, as it is a critical state to both campaign's election plans.
Mr. Obama, speaking in the Democratic stronghold of Cleveland, and Romney, speaking in heavily Republican Cincinnati, outlined their visions of the economy but also attempted to define their opponent as being harmful to the recovery.
At Cuyahoga Community College, the president said, "If they win the election, the agenda will be simple and straight forward." He said Romney and a Republican Congress would reduce the government "to a few basic functions," cut regulations and cut taxes, which he said would be harmful to the national deficit.
"Mr. Romney is qualified to deliver on that plan," the president said.
Romney, meanwhile, noted the president's "eloquence," but said "talk is cheap."
"Action speaks very loud. And if you want to see the results of his economic policies, look around Ohio, look around the country, you'll see a lot of people are hurting," Romney said.
Romney said he would increase trade, call out China for manipulating its currency and increase domestic oil, coal and gas production.
"I can guarantee you if I'm president on day one, we're going to get the approval for that pipeline from Canada, and if I have to build it myself to get it here, I'll get that oil into America," Romney said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Obama touted what he called his "different vision for America," saying he would invest in education, research and development and renewable energy.
The president also reiterated his call to raise taxes on the "wealthiest Americans."
"If you really want to get the deficit under control, the tax code has to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more," he said, noting that Romney's plan includes cutting $5 trillion worth of taxes.
As both campaigns were so close to each other, the campaigns showed up at each other's events.Romney's bus, with the Romney campaign log, circled the site of the president's speech.
Both campaigns are likely to visit Ohio numerous times this campaign season, as it is a critical state to both campaign's election plans.