A week ago, President Obama and Mitt Romney both stumped for votes on the same day in Florida, and Wednesday that type of battle occurs again in Ohio, another swing state that has shown polls trending more towards Democrats in the last few weeks.
Of the last 15 polls in the Buckeye State, Mr. Obama has led in 12, with two favoring Romney and one tied; the polling average gives the President a lead of just over four points in a state that has 18 Electoral Votes.
The Romney and Obama campaigns will almost cross paths on Wednesday - Romney's first event features an appearance by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus just outside of Columbus, then Romney goes to the Cleveland area and finishes up with a rally in Toledo.
The President holds a rally outside Toledo at Bowling Green State University as well as Kent State, located not far to the southeast of Cleveland.
Toledo definitely leans to the Democratic side of the ledger, as Mr. Obama won Lucas County easily in 2008, defeating John McCain by over 30 percent and running up a 64,000 vote advantage, a big chunk of his 207,000 vote edge on election night.
Romney's visit to Bedford Heights in Cuyahoga County is a direct foray into the strength of Democrats in the Buckeye State - that county, which includes Cleveland, delivered a 250,000 vote advantage for the Obama campaign four years ago, more than their final margin of victory statewide.
Romney can certainly win the White House without winning Ohio, but if he loses Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin - all big prizes in the Midwest - it will almost be impossible to get to 270 Electoral Votes against the President.
One note about Romney's schedule - he is doing three campaign events today for the first time that I can remember in at least several weeks.
While his campaign has talked in recent days about stepping up his campaign schedule, next week's Presidential debate in Denver is sure to keep Romney off the trail for a few days of prep work.
But as I always say - every day you don't shake a hand, you never get that day back after Election Day.
