video transcript

In Chicago, President Obama did just as he has been urging others to do -- he voted early. But not before being asked to present some identification. (Natural sound) U.S. President Barack Obama talking about his gray hair : Obama is the first sitting president to cast his ballot before Election Day. SOUNDBITE: President Barack Obama Saying: "All across the country we're seeing a lot of early voting. It means you don't have to figure out if you need to take time off work, figure out how to pick up the kids and still cast your ballot, if something happens on election day you will have already taken care of it, if it's bad weather you won't get wet, or in Chicago snowy but this was really convenient." The Obama campaign has made a push to get as votes banked before polls officially open --- a fact they hope will make the difference in an election this close. The latest Reuters Ipsos polls shows Republican Mitt Romney with a slim lead, 47 percent to Obama's 46 percent with just over a week and half to go before election day. While Obama focused on Florida, Romney told voters in Cincinnati Ohio that the president's campaign is clearly quote diminished and focusing on smaller and smaller things. He also said the president has run out of ideas about how to turn around the economy. SOUNDBITE: Republican Mitt Romney saying: The president has the same old answers as in the past, he wants another stimulus, he wants to hire more government workers and he wants to raise taxes. There is no prospect whatsoever that path will help our economy grow and put people to work and raise take-home pay Ohio looms large in every victory scenario for either candidate -- but particularly for Romney. No Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio.