Obama makes first official campaign stop

With his wife Michelle at his side, President Obama headed to the battleground state of Ohio --- the first official stop on his 2012 reelection campaign.

In Columbus, he addressed concerns about the economy and took aim at his likely Republican opponent.

SOUNDBITE: U.S. President Barack Obama saying:

"The challenge we face right now, the challenge we've faced for over a decade is that harder work hasn't led to higher incomes, it's that bigger profits haven't led to better jobs. Governor Romney doesn't seem to get that. He doesn't seem to understand that maximizing profits by whatever means necessary, whether through layoffs or outsourcing or tax avoidance or union busting, might not always be good for the average American or for the American economy."

Complicating matters for Obama are new statistics which show U.S. employers cut back on hiring for the third straight month.

The president's re-election bid hinges on his ability to convince voters he is the best person to get the economy back on track.

Obama's second stop of the day is in Virginia which is also considedered a 'must win' state.

Deborah Gmebara, Reuters