Obama opens final re-election blitz

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Oct. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. President Barack Obama opened the final leg of his re-election campaign Tuesday, saying he hoped the final debate made differences with his opponent clear.

Obama held a rally with some 11,000 supporters at the Delray Tennis Center in Delray Beach, Fla., before heading for stops in Ohio, where he hammered away at his vision for propping up the middle class.

Obama said Republican challenger Mitt Romney's approach to foreign policy "has been wrong and reckless. Last night [during the debate at Lynn University] he was all over the map." He then said it was another example of "Romnesia," what he has defined as Romney's penchant for changing his position without acknowledging it.

"And we joke about 'Romnesia,' but you know what -- this is actually something important -- this is about trust," Obama said. "There's no more serious issue in a presidential campaign than trust. The person who leads this country, you've got to have some confidence that he or she means what he or she says that if they tell you they're going to do something or that this is what they believe, that they're going to actually try to do it."

Psaki told reporters aboard Air Force One the campaign opened "a full-scale, multi-platform, organization effort" Tuesday for the final blitz so "every voter knows what a second term of an Obama presidency would mean for the middle class." The effort includes direct mail advertisements and distribution at field offices.

Introducing the president at a Triangle Park campaign event in Dayton, Ohio, Vice President Joe Biden said Obama showed he "clearly understands America's interest around the world and has the courage to pursue and protect those interests" during Monday's debate in Boca Raton, Fla.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a man who's not only earned my respect and all those who work with him and all of you, but he's earned the respect of all the world leaders," Biden said. "Ladies and gentlemen, the commander in chief not only knows how to lead America, but this commander in chief is leading the world."

White House press secretary Jay Carney said Obama was pleased with his debate performance.

"He felt that he was able to articulate his vision for America's role in the world; that he was able to forcefully explain the decisions he's made, and make the important point that when you are commander in chief you have to be clear and decisive, even when you're making decisions that aren't popular. And I think he felt good about his performance last night," Carney said.