'We have to win Ohio': Romney holds biggest campaign rally yet as candidates enter final leg of campaign with four days left before general election

PUBLISHED: 02:42 EST, 3 November 2012 | UPDATED: 08:09 EST, 3 November 2012

Speaking before his largest audience yet, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney delivered an emphatic speech, criticizing President Obama and urging voters to support him on Election Day.

Romney addressed a group of nearly 20,000 supporters in the crucial swing state of Ohio, in what may be one of his last campaign events before the general election. In his remarks, Romney took several shots at the president, targeting specifically his handling of the economy.

The speech came on the heels of a new jobs report, which saw the unemployment rate rise slightly to 7.9 percent.

Support me: Mitt Romney delivered an emphatic speech in Ohio as he attempted to gain supporters

'Throughout this campaign, President Obama has tried to convince you that these last four years have been a success,' Romney said.

'He's been floating a plan for the next four years. He wants to take all the things he did in his first term — the stimulus, the borrowing, Obamacare, all the rest — and try them all over again. But our big dreams will not be satisfied with a small agenda that's already failed us.'

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He added: 'We're four days away from a fresh start. Four days away from the first day of a new beginning. My conviction that better days are ahead is not based on promises and hollow rhetoric but solid plans. And proven results. And it's based on an unshakeable faith in the American spirit.'

Criticising: Romney slammed President Obama as he rallied for a spot in the White House

Like a pro: Romney did his best to work the crowd as he campaigned ahead of election day

It was no coincidence that Romney chose the Ohio as the the site of this most recent event. Romney even took time in his speech to make sure that the voters in the state knew how much they meant to his chances in this election.

'Your state is the one I'm counting on, by the way,' he said. 'This is the one we have to win.'

According to the latest polls, Obama holds a slight advantage in Ohio, but those numbers are well within the margin of error. A recent CNN poll has the president ahead of Romney by just three percentage points.

The Ohio crowd also got the chance to hear from two major Romney surrogates: vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Teamwork: Romney was joined by his wife Ann, Republican vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan, and his wife Janna

Family man: Romney was seen carrying one of his grandsons as he stepped off his campaign plane at Pease International Airport in Portsmouth

In his remarks, Ryan expressed a similar sentiment to Romney regarding the importance of Ohio voters.

'We have a really big choice ahead of us,' he said.

'We are not just picking a president for four more years. We are choosing for at least a generation what kind of people we’re going to be and what kind of country we’re going to give to our kids and our grandkids.

'In Ohio, you know it, you’re the linchpin. You’re the battleground of the battlegrounds. Ohio, are you going to help us win this thing?'

The president hit the campaign trail again on Friday, greeting a young girl while meeting with supporters after speaking at a campaign event at Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, Ohio

Obama abandoned the campaign trail to meet those devastated by the Hurricane, comforting Donna Vanzant, right, during a tour of her neighborhood

Meanwhile, Giuliani issued a scathing rebuke of Obama, calling him 'the worst president for our economy in our lifetime.'

The former mayor went on to blast the president on the way he handled the embassy attack in Libya that claimed four American lives.

'Maybe if we had a president who was paying attention, we wouldn't be going through this investigation of what's being covered up about Libya,' Giuliani said, adding that the attack was the 'result of incompetence.'

The Ohio event came shortly after Romney held another event in Wisconsin, where he gave what he called his 'closing remarks.' Here too, Romney offer a final pledge to sway the minds of the country’s voters.

'We ask you to look beyond the speeches and the attacks and the ads,' he said. 'Look to the record, the accomplishments and failures, and the judgment. Words are cheap. A record is real and earned with effort.

'Change cannot be measured in speeches; it is measured in achievements. Four years ago, candidate Obama promised to do so very much, but he has fallen so very short.'

After wrapping up these two events, the Romney campaign plans to travel to New Hampshire for an early morning rally. It will also make stops in Iowa and Colorado, before returning to Iowa late Saturday night.

CNN Poll: Obama 50% ¿ Romney 47% in Ohio

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What is it about the DM and its promotion of Romney the loser?

- Z-ennorman1 , Penzance, 03/11/2012 12:01

Click to rate Rating 49

If Romney gets in it will be war again just like Bush.

- brian , Blandford, 03/11/2012 11:57

Click to rate Rating (0)

to: Penquin , Gotham City, United States, 03/11/2012 11:22 who wrote: I have lived in Ohio all my life. I can assure you President Obama will win Ohio. Thousands of Ohioans are employed in the automobile industry. They know President Obama saved GM and Chrysler and despise the way Romney is lying about it. Romney will lose Ohio and the election on Tuesday. FYI Penquin: the liar is in the White House- do you homework. He did not save anything since all the money used came from us, THE TAXPAYER and wil have to be paid back by us THE TAXPAYER. Go ahead and vote for the president again, LOOK AT THE NUMBERS! We are no going forward in any way. That's for sure.

- Americanwoman , USA USA USA, United States, 03/11/2012 11:55

Click to rate Rating 9

Now Romney's targeting Christians texting them that voting for Obama will send them to Hell..... Will people believe this. i'm sorry but this is totally disgusting... Do they have any scruples?

- Nickyg , London, 03/11/2012 11:51

Click to rate Rating 39

Romney will win, he owns the ballot machines.

- sunshine , USA, 03/11/2012 11:50

Click to rate Rating 42

brace yourselves America .....if this idiot gets in the backlash from other nations will be more devastating than any Frankenstorm

- mowen , liverpool, 03/11/2012 11:46

Click to rate Rating 24

This man is a danger not only to the USA but to the rest of the world.People need to realise as a mormon he will always put whgat he is told by its leaders ahead of what is right for the USA or the rest of the world.They mask thier true neliefs by pretending to be christians well christians do not ask for the undergarments of the dead or place the dead in a white clothe and put 3 pagen symbols on the body .These are just some of the things they do notm want the general public to know.DO NOT AMERICA VOTE FOR THIS WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING FOR ALL OUR SAKES.

- jimmy , bham, 03/11/2012 11:32

Click to rate Rating 19

Good luck Mitt! Let this be a good four days for you and a successful election!

- Magdalena , New York, 03/11/2012 11:28

Click to rate Rating 35

Come on Romney were praying for you. Hell no to the Marxist in Chief shape shifter who has broke the American people almost down into the ground. Mitt Romney / Paul Ryan 2012 in a Landslide>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

- KM , Somerset USA, 03/11/2012 11:25

Click to rate Rating 45

I have lived in Ohio all my life. I can assure you President Obama will win Ohio. Thousands of Ohioans are employed in the automobile industry. They know President Obama saved GM and Chrysler and despise the way Romney is lying about it. Romney will lose Ohio and the election on Tuesday.

- Penquin , Gotham City, United States, 03/11/2012 11:22

Click to rate Rating 38

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