President Obama campaigns in Springfield as election nears

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - With less than a week until the presidential election, President Barack Obama spoke at Springfield High School in Springfield, Ohio, Friday afternoon during his tour of the Buckeye State.

Obama was scheduled to make three stops in Ohio Friday as he returns back to the Buckeye State from a campaign swing that covered Wisconsin, Nevada and Colorado Thursday.

Obama started his day in Hilliard, a suburb of Columbus, and then headed west to Springfield. Later he was scheduled to go north to Lima.

"I wish my father were here to see this," said Denise Terrell of Springfield who said her African American father died in 2005 and would've appreciated what she feels is an economic turnaround under President Obama.

To that end the Obama campaign highlighted Friday morning's report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics which released data indicating the economy added 171,000 jobs in October. This was more than predicted.

The unemployment rate ticked up to 7.9 percent as expected but analysts suggest that is because more out of work Americans are hopeful about their prospects to find work, looking for jobs and once again being counted by the BLS.

Obama supporters filled the Springfield high school gymnasium to get a glimpse of the President including William A. Koehler, 84 a WWII veteran from Springfield.

"I voted for him the first time and I think he's doing a good job," said Koehler, "He bailed out the auto industry and as a tool and dye maker that was good for my job."

After overseeing the relief efforts in the wake of Superstorm Sandy the president enters the last four days before the election with an endorsement from New York City's mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg explained that he felt Obama's position on climate change was stronger than that of Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

Stay with 9 News and WCPO.com for continuing coverage of Democracy 2012 from Springfield.