Obama kicks off campaign with stops in Ohio, Virginia

Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks at a campaign rally at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, May 5. Obama officially kicked off his re-election campaign with visits to Ohio and Virginia.

With his wife at his side and Air Force One as a campaign plane, President Barack Obama was holding his first political rallies of the 2012 presidential race on Saturday -- targeting two swing states, Ohio and Virginia, that could be critical to his bid to retain the White House.

The events at two universities, Ohio State and Virginia Commonwealth, were billed as the official kickoff of Obama's re-election bid, even though he's been solidly engaged in his campaign and over a year ago filed the necessary paperwork to run again.

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