Campaigning for the Middle Class: Romney, Obama Focus on Economy

POLITICS -- August 2, 2012 at 6:00 PM EDT

Campaigning for the Middle Class: Romney, Obama Focus on Economy

Romney resumed his campaigning at a fairgrounds in Golden, Colo., after returning from a tough -- at times tumultuous -- trip abroad.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee's speech was focused on winning the support of middle class Americans. He charged the president of failing Americans with his economic plan.

"I know he will be able to speak eloquently and describe all the great things he's doing and what he's going to do, but look at the results," Romney said of Obama. "You look at the results and it's been a disappointment. His policies have not worked. They have not got America back to work again. My policies will work and I know that because they've worked in the past."

You can watch Romney's campaign speech in full here:

Shortly afterward, the president took to the podium at Rollins College in Orlando, Fla. He was forced to cancel the same event in the aftermath of the shootings in Aurora, Colo., a few weeks ago.

It's the first of two visits to swing states Thursday. The president heads to Virginia to speak at a high school in Leesburg. (The NewsHour will have more on the race in Virginia in a few weeks, so stay tuned)

Mr. Obama's focus remained on the economy as well, and he said his GOP rival wants to reward millionaires with tax breaks.

"He's not asking you to pay an extra $2,000 to reduce our deficit. He's not asking you to pay an additional $2,000 to help care for our seniors. He's not asking to pay an additional $2,000 in order to rebuild America or fight a war. He's asking you to pay more so that people like him can pay less," said Obama.

Watch Obama's speech in Orlando, Fla., below:

Watch the NewsHour Thursday night for an in-depth look and debate about their competing tax plans.

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It was back to the campaign trail for both presidential candidates Thursday, as Mitt Romney returned from an overseas tour to make stops in Colorado, and President Obama revisited swing-state Florida. Romney resumed his campaigning at a fairgrounds in Golden, Colo., after returning from a tough -- [at times tumultuous](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/07/weekend-in-israel-hangs-over-romney-speech-in-poland.html) -- trip abroad. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee's speech was focused on winning the support of middle class Americans. He charged the president of failing Americans with his economic plan. "I know he will be able to speak eloquently and describe all the great things he's doing and what he's going to do, but look at the results," Romney said of Obama. "You look at the results and it's been a disappointment. His policies have not worked. They have not got America back to work again. My policies will work and I know that because they've worked in the past." You can watch Romney's campaign speech in full here:
Shortly afterward, the president took to the podium at Rollins College in Orlando, Fla. [He was forced to cancel the same event](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/july-dec12/florida_07-23.html) in the aftermath of the shootings in Aurora, Colo., a few weeks ago. It's the first of two visits to swing states Thursday. The president heads to Virginia to speak at a high school in Leesburg. (The NewsHour will have more on the race in Virginia in a few weeks, so stay tuned) Mr. Obama's [focus remained on the economy](http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/08/battle-over-taxes-takes-center-stage-in-campaign.html) as well, and he said his GOP rival wants to reward millionaires with tax breaks. "He's not asking you to pay an extra $2,000 to reduce our deficit. He's not asking you to pay an additional $2,000 to help care for our seniors. He's not asking to pay an additional $2,000 in order to rebuild America or fight a war. He's asking you to pay more so that people like him can pay less," said Obama. Watch Obama's speech in Orlando, Fla., below:
[Watch the NewsHour Thursday night](bitly.com/newshourlive) for an in-depth look and debate about their competing tax plans.