It’s not all that often when the two major party presidential candidates speak at nearly the same time within the same state.

But that was the case Thursday in Ohio as President Barack Obama speak in Cleveland at Cuyahoga County Community College and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney addressed a crowd at a small business in Cincinnati.

Ohio will continue to be critical to both campaigns are the two candidates battle for the state’s 18 electoral votes as part of the required 270 needed to win.

Most presidential polls show Ohio as one of fewer than 10 states that are currently a toss-up — meaning neither Romney or Obama have a significant lead within them.

Electoral college maps posted online by various media outlets also show that Ohio is the second largest state still in play only behind Florida with 29 electoral votes up for grabs. The majority of states are considered to be solidly behind either Obama or Romney.

Romney finished up his remarks Thursday just before Obama took the stage at about 1:45 p.m., the Associated Press reported.

A Romney campaign spokeswoman accused the president of asking voters for a “do-over” on his campaign message that the private sector is “doing fine”.

“But it’s going to take more than a major economic speech to make Americans forget that President Obama has failed to deliver a major economic recovery,” said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul.

Obama argued that the November election is a chance to break a stalemate in Washington that has put a damper on progress. He said that both candidates have different fundamental views on which direction to take the economy.

“What’s holding us back is a stalemate in Washington between two fundamentally different views of which direction America should take and this election is your chance to break that stalemate,” Obama said, according to a speech transcript.

It is worth noting that U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, is from the Cincinnati area and has been mentioned by many as a possible vice presidential choice for Romney.

Many political observers note that a vice presidential candidate’s most important job initially is to help the presidential candidate win that state.

Portman issued a statement shortly after Obama concluded his remarks in Cleveland.

“Washington needs leadership to get the country back on track by enacting pro-growth tax reform, regulatory relief and a new national energy plan that uses our own resources in Ohio and around the country,” Portman said.

Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, co-chair of Obama for America, also issued a statement after Obama’s speech.

“Ohioans know what’s at stake in this election, and it’s clear that the path laid out by the President is the right course for America’s economic future,” Strickland said.

Deadlines

The weekly deadline to submit information for consideration into this column is each Wednesday at 5 p.m. The preferred method is by email or fax. Have a fundraiser? Send it in weeks ahead of time.

Fundies

n Lake County Coroner Dr. Lynn Smith hosts a picnic from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Painesville Elks Club. See Ronald Taddeo or Jan Swetel.

n Bob Patterson, candidate for Lake County treasurer, fundraiser with special guest state Sen. John Eklund, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 28 at Historic Perkins Estate in Mentor. See Sandy Patterson.

n Euclid Mayor Bill Cervenik annual golf outing, shotgun start at 1 p.m. June 29 at Briardale Greens Golf Course, Euclid. See Beth Cervenik or Michael Gallagher.

n Judge Mary Jane Trapp, 11th District Court of Appeals Court, will host Night with the Captains at 6 p.m. July 11 at Classic Park in Eastlake. See Mike Apicella.

n David Fiebig, candidate for Lake County commissioner, golf outing July 13 at Black Brook golf course in Mentor 9:30 a.m., 5 p.m. dinner. See Dale Fellows or Cindy Quinn-Hopkins.

n Eastlake Mayor Ted Andrzejewski eighth annual golf outing 8:30 a.m. shotgun start July 13 at Pine Ridge Golf Course in Wickliffe. See Ted or Patricia Andrzejewski.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah