On the Road With Obama

The president hits the road in re-election bid.

President Obama Launches "Betting on America"  bus tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania - President Obama hit the campaign trail on July 5 for a two-day bus tour of the key battleground states Ohio and Pennsylvania, which he carried in 2008, to build support and tout how his initiatives have helped the economy grow. The president also recalled his upbringing, reminiscing about Greyhound bus and train trips around the nation with his mother and grandparents and stays at Howard Johnson's, providing a stark contrast between himself and Romney who spent the week with his family vacationing at their luxurious home in New Hampshire. – Joyce Jones(Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

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President Obama Launches "Betting on America"  bus tour of Ohio and Pennsylvania - President Obama hit the campaign trail on July 5 for a two-day bus tour of the key battleground states Ohio and Pennsylvania, which he carried in 2008, to build support and tout how his initiatives have helped the economy grow. The president also recalled his upbringing, reminiscing about Greyhound bus and train trips around the nation with his mother and grandparents and stays at Howard Johnson's, providing a stark contrast between himself and Romney who spent the week with his family vacationing at their luxurious home in New Hampshire. – Joyce Jones(Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

Once in a Lifetime - Ina Sidney, a line worker at Chrysler's Toledo Machining Plant in Perrysburg Township, introduced President Obama at his first campaign stop in Ohio at the Wolcott House Museum in Maumee. "At first, it didn't hit me until it came time to say his name and he was going to come out. This was a once-in -a-lifetime experience," said Sidney. She was laid off for two months in 2009, which caused her to fall behind on her mortgage and other bills. "But then, President Obama stood up for me," she said. "He bet on the American worker, and he rescued America's auto industry, and it's paying off for our economy and country." (Photo: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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Once in a Lifetime - Ina Sidney, a line worker at Chrysler's Toledo Machining Plant in Perrysburg Township, introduced President Obama at his first campaign stop in Ohio at the Wolcott House Museum in Maumee. "At first, it didn't hit me until it came time to say his name and he was going to come out. This was a once-in -a-lifetime experience," said Sidney. She was laid off for two months in 2009, which caused her to fall behind on her mortgage and other bills. "But then, President Obama stood up for me," she said. "He bet on the American worker, and he rescued America's auto industry, and it's paying off for our economy and country." (Photo: AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Lines in the Sand - Speaking at the Wolcott House Museum in Maumee, Ohio, the president highlighted the differences between his economic policies and plans to boost the middle class to that of his rival Mitt Romney's. "On jobs, on education, on housing, on health care, on retirement, on all these things that are the pillars of a middle-class life, we can't go backwards," he said. "We've got to go forwards. And that's the choice facing us this November. And the choice could not be more clear." (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Lines in the Sand - Speaking at the Wolcott House Museum in Maumee, Ohio, the president highlighted the differences between his economic policies and plans to boost the middle class to that of his rival Mitt Romney's. "On jobs, on education, on housing, on health care, on retirement, on all these things that are the pillars of a middle-class life, we can't go backwards," he said. "We've got to go forwards. And that's the choice facing us this November. And the choice could not be more clear." (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Me and My Shadows - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who are two of Romney's top surrogates, also spoke in Maumee on Thursday. In a reference to Obama's bus tour theme, Pawlenty said, "Well, of course, we should all bet on America, but we shouldn't double-down on Barack Obama. His presidency has been a losing hand for Ohio and for America." Jindal praised Romney. "You want good-paying jobs in Ohio, you want a growing economy in America? We need to elect Mitt Romney," he said. "We can't afford another four years of on-the-job training." (Photo: Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

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Me and My Shadows - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who are two of Romney's top surrogates, also spoke in Maumee on Thursday. In a reference to Obama's bus tour theme, Pawlenty said, "Well, of course, we should all bet on America, but we shouldn't double-down on Barack Obama. His presidency has been a losing hand for Ohio and for America." Jindal praised Romney. "You want good-paying jobs in Ohio, you want a growing economy in America? We need to elect Mitt Romney," he said. "We can't afford another four years of on-the-job training." (Photo: Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

Sweet Talker - At an unscheduled stop at the Kozy Corners diner, Obama complimented a young boy with spiked blue-tipped hair; flirted with an emergency-room nurse, whom he said looks great and too young to be a grandmother; and autographed a fourth-grader's sketch book with an inscription to "Dream big dreams." Before tucking into a cheeseburger, fries and a tall iced tea, he told the diners, "All right, I'm going to eat my burger and everybody just pretend like I'm not here." (Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

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Sweet Talker - At an unscheduled stop at the Kozy Corners diner, Obama complimented a young boy with spiked blue-tipped hair; flirted with an emergency-room nurse, whom he said looks great and too young to be a grandmother; and autographed a fourth-grader's sketch book with an inscription to "Dream big dreams." Before tucking into a cheeseburger, fries and a tall iced tea, he told the diners, "All right, I'm going to eat my burger and everybody just pretend like I'm not here." (Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

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Consoler-in-Chief - After Obama delivered a speech in Sandusky, Ohio, a sobbing woman shared the story of her late sister's battle with colon cancer, which was ultimately lost in part because of the unaffordability of health care insurance. "Even after she was diagnosed with cancer, she was told her income was too high for Medicaid," Stephanie Miller said. "I thanked him for getting the [Affordable Care Act] passed."(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Consoler-in-Chief - After Obama delivered a speech in Sandusky, Ohio, a sobbing woman shared the story of her late sister's battle with colon cancer, which was ultimately lost in part because of the unaffordability of health care insurance. "Even after she was diagnosed with cancer, she was told her income was too high for Medicaid," Stephanie Miller said. "I thanked him for getting the [Affordable Care Act] passed."(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Cheers! - The president popped into a bar called Ziggy's in Amherst, Ohio, whose WiFi code is "DRINKBEER." Obama drank a Bud Lite as he worked his way through the room discussing issues like veterans' affairs and education. "I'll arm-wrestle you for your vote," one patron said to the president, who replied, "No, I'll play basketball for your vote." (Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

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Cheers! - The president popped into a bar called Ziggy's in Amherst, Ohio, whose WiFi code is "DRINKBEER." Obama drank a Bud Lite as he worked his way through the room discussing issues like veterans' affairs and education. "I'll arm-wrestle you for your vote," one patron said to the president, who replied, "No, I'll play basketball for your vote." (Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

Spin Cycle - The president tried to put a positive spin on the disappointing June jobs report by saying the number of jobs added to the economy was a step in the right direction but far from his goal. "I want to get back to a time when middle-class families and those working to be in the middle class have some security. That's our goal," Obama said.(Photo: David Richard/AP Photo)

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Spin Cycle - The president tried to put a positive spin on the disappointing June jobs report by saying the number of jobs added to the economy was a step in the right direction but far from his goal. "I want to get back to a time when middle-class families and those working to be in the middle class have some security. That's our goal," Obama said.(Photo: David Richard/AP Photo)

It's a Wrap - President Obama wrapped up his bus tour on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University before a crowd of more than 6,000. He did not mention the June jobs report, but told supporters, "We will finish what we started in 2008, and this economy will be moving again." (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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It's a Wrap - President Obama wrapped up his bus tour on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University before a crowd of more than 6,000. He did not mention the June jobs report, but told supporters, "We will finish what we started in 2008, and this economy will be moving again." (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)