Associated Press

WESTERVILLE, Ohio

--Slipping in states that could sink his presidential bid, Republican Mitt Romney declared Wednesday that "I care about the people of America" and can do more than President Barack Obama to improve their lives. In an all-day Ohio duel, Obama scoffed that a challenger who calls half the nation "victims" was unlikely to be of much help.

Romney's approach reflected what he is up against: a widening Obama lead in polls in key states such as Ohio, the backlash from a leaked video in which he disparages Obama supporters as government-dependent victims, and a campaign imperative to make his policy plans more plain.

With under six weeks to go, and just one week before the first big debate, Obama's campaign reveled in the latest public polling--but tried to crush any sense of overconfidence.

"If we need to pass out horse blinders to all of our staff, we will do that," said campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

The day's setting was Ohio, where Obama's momentum has seemed to be growing.

It's also a state no Republican has won the White House without carrying.

Romney went after working-class voters outside Columbus and Cleveland before rolling to Toledo. Obama rallied college crowds at Bowling Green and Kent State, reminding Ohioans their state allows them to start cast ballots next week.

Early voting has already begun in more than two dozen other states.

For Romney, in his appearances and in a new TV ad in which he appeals straight to the camera, it was time for plain talk to contrast himself with Obama.

"There are so many people in our country who are hurting right now. I want to help them. I know what it takes," Romney told the crowd in Westerville. "I care about the people of America, and the difference between me and Barack Obama is I know what to do."

That message so late in the campaign--a presidential nominee declaring his concern for all the people of the country--was part of his widening effort to rebound from his caught-on-video comments at a fundraiser.

In those comments, made last May but only recently revealed, Romney said "47 percent of the people" pay no federal income tax, will vote for Obama no matter what, are victims, think the government must care for them and do not "take personal responsibility and care for their lives."