Obama, Romney Deliver Final Message on Last Campaign Day
President Barack Obama was in three states and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was in four states on Monday, the last day of campaigning before election Tuesday. Obama vowed to be a champion for voters against the special interests in Washington while Romney vowed to govern as a bipartisan reformer if elected.
Obama campaigned in Ohio, Wisconsin and Virginia. Vice President Joe Biden had two campaign stops in Virginia. Former President Bill Clinton campaigned on Obama's behalf in Pennsylvania and first lady Michelle Obama was in North Carolina and Florida.
Romney was in Florida, Virginia, Ohio and New Hampshire. His running mate, Paul Ryan, spent time in Nevada, Colorado and Iowa.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Obama campaigned on the theme of change as he asked voters to keep him as their president for another four years.
"We know what the future requires, but we also know it's not going to be easy," Obama said at a rally in Madison, Wis. "Back in 2008 we talked about it. I know everybody sometimes romanticizes the last campaign -- the posters and all the ... good feeling. But I said back then, when I'm talking about change, I'm not just talking about presidents or political parties, I'm talking about changing how our politics works."
Obama also told those in attendance that he would be their "champion" and stand up for them against those in power.
"I ran because the voice of the American people, your voices, had been shut out of our democracy for way too long, by lobbyists, and special interests, and politicians who will say and do anything just to keep things the way they are."
Obama's crowds also featured entertainment from Jay-Z and Bruce Springsteen.
Romney's final campaign message was about bipartisanship as he vowed to work with members of both parties. He also complained that Obama "wasted time" working on partisan legislation rather than focusing on legislation to create jobs and help the economy.
"If [Obama] were to get reelected, he would not be able to work with people in Congress," Romney said in Lynchburg, Va. "And I say that because he hasn't been able to. He has ignored them, he's attacked them, he's blamed them. And, by the way, if he can't work with Congress, think what happens the next time the debt ceiling comes up. ... The president was right when he said the other day that he can't change Washington from the inside. We're gonna give him a chance to try and change it from the outside."
Romney also criticized Obama for telling his supporters to seek revenge by voting.
"Just the other day, in his closing argument, President Obama asked his supporters to vote for revenge," Romney said as the crowd booed. "I ask the American people to vote for love of country," he added as the boos changed to cheers.
Four national polls released Monday show a tight race. CNN/Opinion Research and Monmouth/Survey USA/Braun both show the race tied at 49 percent and 48 percent, respectively. Rasmussen Reports and Gallup both show Romney with only a one percentage point lead, 49 to 48 percent.
