Obama campaign: "Welcome to the general election"

By: Leigh Ann Caldwell
Topics: Campaign 2012

(Credit: Carolyn Kaster)

Updated 8:55 p.m. ET

(CBS News) The Obama campaign announced the official open of the president's re-election effort.

In a conference call with reporters, Mr. Obama's campaign manager Jim Messina began by saying, "Welcome to the general election."

Messina announced that the president and First Lady Michelle Obama will hold two rallies on Saturday, May 5. The first will take place in Columbus at Ohio State University and the second in Richmond, Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The announcement to reporters coincided with a text message alert to supporters with the greeting "Big news."

The Obama campaign launches into general election mode after the Republicans "settled for their candidate," Messina said.

Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney swept five primary states Tuesday, Republican National Committee (RNC) endorsed him and one of his challengers, Newt Gingrich, announced that he is leaving the race.

Messina said voters will have the "choice between two distinct records, and two different visions for the future of this country."

"Mitt Romney wants to go back to the future," Messina said.

"Americans shouldn't be surprised that President Obama's campaign will attack Mitt Romney for his experience in creating jobs," Romney campaign spokesperson Andrea Saul responded. "Unfortunately, voters will have to expect that the Obama campaign will be running a campaign based on personal attacks to divert, distract and distort. Like Mitt Romney said last night, 'It's still the economy, and we're not stupid.'"

Although the Obama campaign officially launches its re-election efforts, the president has held more than 100 fundraisers, according to CBS News estimates.

The Republican National Committee filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Office alleging the president is using taxpayers' dollars for events at college campuses to talk about student loan rates this week that they charge are campaign events.

Senior adviser David Axelrod said "it's part of the job of the presidency" to talk to the public.

"We're not going to get hot and bothered by RNC stunts," he said.

Leigh Ann Caldwell
Leigh Ann Caldwell is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by oldman67 April 26, 2012 2:03 AM EDT: Watch two videos on youtube. The first is (Romney Obama the Same?) The second one is (The Ultimate Mitt Romney Flip-Flop Collection.) Both are in their own words. They are more alike than many think.Especially when it comes to their platforms although Mitt Romney has been know to change depending to whom he is speaking. Anyone that can't see that President Barack Obama has all the symptoms of a individual with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder probably has no idea what it means.; Reply to this comment


by BanRacism April 26, 2012 12:51 AM EDT: Why the GOP can't win? Because they simply are grossly dishonest and consistently offer deception without hesitation or conscience. Because they put their political ambitions above all else, at any cost to the people. Because they cater to and patronize "the few", acting as "puppets" for the influential, powerful and extremely wealthy who strongly support them and who "pull their strings". Because they are arrogant, obnoxious and stubborn, just faulting and blocking all real efforts, as they put their self-interests first. http://youarenews.com/articles/us/opinion-why-the-gop-can-t-win; Reply to this comment


by mnguyen4 April 25, 2012 11:27 PM EDT: So Mitt Romney wants to go back to the future, according to his spokesperson. What kind of future is that? We all know what his priorities are. His policies as President will be very much like George W. Bush. Only, they are going to be more extreme with a shift of wealth in the United States from the bottom to the top.

At this point, nobody should believe that a former Bain Capital CEO is interested in creating jobs in America. For a guy who touts he likes to fire people, creating jobs is an hollow promise for a politician who desperately wants to win.

Elect him, and all of your jobs will be outsourced to China and India.; Reply to this comment


by zebra62 April 25, 2012 11:00 PM EDT: I'm about tired of writing comments. All I ask my liberal friends to do is to analyse why this man is so arrogant, why he is anti business, why he is anti-Supreme Court(as long as it is a conservative court), why he is anti-Israel, why he is anti-Catholic. I ask that you quit taking him at face value and read as much of the Healthcare laws as you can stomach. I ask that you Google United Nations Agenda 21. I ask that you look at the tough times of the common people in the countries of Europe and finally, I ask, "Are you ready to be like them in twenty years and are you ready for your children to be Socialist slaves to the government. If you are 44 or younger, the Social Security and Medicare funds will be nonexistent for you and your offspring and this president reduced the individual contributions to the fund by 33%. Think about it and read about his agenda.; Reply to this comment

by gratvialavas April 25, 2012 10:49 PM EDT

I watched the Jimmy Fallon segment with President Obama. First, they could barely get the applause down enough to do the segment. Then Obama proceeded to once again prove he's simply the coolest guy on the planet.

I tried to imagine poor Mitt trying the same thing. The very idea would be ridiculous.

This is going to be fun.

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by novotesobozo April 25, 2012 11:01 PM EDT: obozo is about as cool as the clap


by involved_indi April 25, 2012 11:35 PM EDT: so vote him out so he can go on the lecture circuit. he certaainly has proven he isn't a leader. maybe his true calling is entertainment and you'd be doing him a favor by voting him out. I want a serious person as President...not a "cool guy" of course I'm not 12 either.

by TJphoto April 25, 2012 10:39 PM EDT

Can't wait for the debates, the corporate raider verses the guy who supports the Buffet Rule. Bring It On.

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by novotesobozo April 25, 2012 11:00 PM EDT: Errr ummm ahhh oooo errr ummmm ahhhh yeah I want to to see the debates


by involved_indi April 25, 2012 11:41 PM EDT: let me give you a preview. If Obama is asked a question about his performance he will blame Bush, Republicians, teller machines, bad weather, the tsunami or maybe even little green men and then he will change the subject. His supporters are HIS supporters and nothing he says will change their minds. However, he will not influence intelligent, perceptive, serious but undecided people with this strategy.

by eightsigma April 25, 2012 9:42 PM EDT

Any reputable source to back this up?

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by sjc_1 April 25, 2012 10:17 PM EDT: Never ask a wrong winger for evidence, they just make it up, asking is a waste of time.

by bmallen3 April 25, 2012 9:17 PM EDT

Obama ordered the EPA to " Crucify oil and gas companies" . Is there any wonder the price of gas is high and our US energy sector is at war with Obama? This must stop...Obama must be removed..the damage he has done is simply amazing.

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by dj_chi April 25, 2012 10:16 PM EDT: Oil and gas companies are making a mint, as always. Can't see why they'd be up in arms about anything. Drilling's up, prices are up.... Life's good for an oilman.


by dj_chi April 25, 2012 10:17 PM EDT: Oh, and you forgot the part about how international demand has more than a little to do with prices going up.