Obama kicks off re-election campaign in Ohio

President Barack Obama's path "forward" began in Ohio today, as he kicked off his re-election bid with steady attacks against Mitt Romney, The Associated Press said.

In front of about 14,000 people at Ohio State University, Obama promised to continue fighting for the middle class.

He also suggested Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, knows nothing about the average American's struggle.

Romney and the GOP want voters to believe "the same bad ideas will lead to a different result, or they're just hoping you won't remember what happened the last time you tried it their way."

The election is six months away.

The first lady, Michelle Obama, introduced her husband and reminded students they need to mobilize, the Washington Post reported.

Her comments also made mention of how the Obamas overcame meager means.

"Believe me, Barack knows what it means when a family struggles," she said, according to the Post. "He knows what it means when someone doesn’t have the chance to fulfill their potential."

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Romney countered by attempting to blame Obama for America's unemployment, CBS News reported.

"No matter how many lofty campaign speeches President Obama gives, the fact remains that American families are struggling on his watch: to pay their bills, find a job and keep their homes," Romney's statement said, according to CBS. "This November, they will hold him accountable for his broken promises and ineffective leadership."

Ohio is considered a crucial state in presidential elections.

According to a Quinnipiac University poll released Friday, Obama leads Romney 44 to 42 percent in Ohio. 

The race is close in another other swing state, Florida, but Obama enjoys an 8 percent lead in Pennsylvania, the poll said.

Obama was to hold another event in Virginia today.

"If you're willing to work even harder in this election than you did in the last election, I guarantee you we will move this country forward," the president said, CBS reported. "We will finish what we started."

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