MENTOR, OH – Driving home his final campaign message, President Barack Obama painted himself as the trustworthy choice in the campaign versus his Republican opponent, Mitt Romney.
“When you elect a president, you don’t know what kinds of emergencies may happen. You don’t know what problems he or she may deal with. But you want to be able to trust your president,” he said to a crowd of about 4,000 at a high school in this Cleveland suburb.
The president’s advisers often talk about this election as coming down to “trust,” as does the candidate himself, but his language at Saturday’s rally was particularly explicit in terms of identifying himself as the most trustworthy candidate.
Slideshow: On the campaign trail
The president was sure to toast the successes of the Mentor High School band and football team, a tribute to the homespun politics that could make the difference in battleground Ohio.
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“I also understand that this band just won the state championship? Best band in Ohio right here! In the house!” he exclaimed, referring to the Fighting Cardinals Marching Band, which entertained supporters (and reporters) with elaborate arrangements of Lady Gaga and AC/DC tunes before the event started.
“And the football team is in is first playoff game tonight! So the Cardinals got a lot going on right now,” Obama continued.
Related: Polls: Obama stays ahead in Ohio, deadlocked with Romney in Fla.
Romney spokesman Ryan Williams responded to Obama comments with a reference to the president's "voting is the best revenge" comment yesterday.
“With no record to run on and no vision for the future, President Obama is resorting to false, discredited attacks and a cynical closing message urging voters to choose ‘revenge.’ Mitt Romney wants to bring people together and he wants Americans to vote for love of country. He will deliver real change for a real recovery, creating 12 million new jobs with rising take-home pay and a better future for all Americans.”
