2010-11-01 10:05

CLEVELAND - US President Barack Obama has chosen Ohio as the key state for his final rally before the mid-term election held on November 2.

More than 8,000 Democrats gathered at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center on Sunday to show support.

During his speech, Obama compared America to a car being driven into a ditch by the Republicans, and the Democrats had to work hard to get the car back on the road. He urged voters not to give the key back to the Republicans.

Obama addressed a few key issues that the Democrats and the Republicans disagree on. These include education, outsourcing, renewable energy and tax cuts. He encouraged the rally attendees to vote for the Democrats in order to ensure that the Americans will have a better future.

As he spoke in three other states this weekend, Obama implored voters in Ohio to recall how poorly the Republicans handled the economy when they were in control, and to give Democrats more time.

He said: "It's up to you to remember that this election is a choice between the policies that got us into this mess and the policies that are leading us out of this mess."

Obama said Republicans would return to policies that cut taxes for billionaires, cut regulations for special interests and "cut loose" middle-class families to fend for themselves.

The rally at CSU's Wolstein Center marks the third time since 2004 that the Democratic banner carrier has chosen Cleveland to close out a major national campaign.

The race has implications for Obama's 2012 re-election bid, because any time the governor and the president are of the same political party, "it probably means that they have a good ground organization that they can work with" in the next presidential election, said Joan McLean, professor of politics and government at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Thus, If Obama can help Strickland get a second term, it will help Obama "lay the groundwork" for the presidential election, McLean said.

Ohio "has been and is among the most important states electorally for the presidency and for other statewide and federal offices and that is of course the primary reason" for Ohio to host the season's final rally, said Brad Woodhouse, communications director for the Democratic Party. "But also, and this is just my opinion, Ohio represents the hope and promise of America and its most enduring challenges."

Vice President Joe Biden, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, US Senator Sherrod Brown and Representative Dennis Kucinich all joined in with the president to speak at the rally.