http://twitter.com/#!/BarackObama/status/213326064238346241

As Twitchy reported earlier, President Obama is in the Buckeye State today, where he’s delivering a speech on the state of his reelection campai- er, the economy.

Pres Obama's speech at 145pm is billed as a campaign event and will be staged at a local community college here in Cleveland.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Well, at least no one’s trying to conceal the speech’s stump-iness this time around.

This is sure to be one hell of a speech, and we’ll be takin’ one for the team and covering it live here. If you’re in the mood for a little masochism, though, you can view the speech here.

CBS’s Mark Knoller offers a preview of what we can expect:

WH/Jay Carney says Pres Obama views the election as a choice between "two very different visions" on jobs, growth & debt.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama argues that his policies stopped the slide into depression, racked up 4.3-million jobs & would have been more had GOP allowed.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama says there's been progress but "does that mean that I’m satisfied? Does that mean we are satisfied? Absolutely not. "

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Look for Pres Obama to stress "the last thing we need is to go back to the very same policies that got us into this mess in the 1st place."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Boooooooooooooosh!

Obama Campaign Manager @Messina2012 on Obama speech: "whether we move this country forward, or return to failed policies of the past."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Boooooooooooooosh again!

Difference between Obama "official" and "campaign" speech: campaign slogan on the lectern: "Forward."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Why is there a campaign poster on the podium for a speech about the economy?

— Michelle Ray (@GaltsGirl) June 14, 2012

It’s like Obama isn’t even trying anymore to conceal the fact that all of his speeches are ultimately campaign speeches.

***

Annnnnd we’re off!

Oh. Em. Gee. POTUS hasn’t even arrived yet, and the students are doing the wave and chanting his name. WoooooOOOOOOooo!

The Obama crowd just attempted the wave. First two attempts failed miserably. Third was passable.

— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) June 14, 2012

The president is late to his event. He must have misplaced his diamond-encrusted pocket watch.

“FOUR MORE YEARS!” In four more years, these students are still going to be living with their parents. It’s the American Dream.

For the love of God… if there's somebody there at the Obama speech, start up the Day-O song. Or Thunder Road. It'd be an improvement.

— Moe Lane (@moelane) June 14, 2012

Hospice nurse and mother of two Angela Shafer has taken the stage to introduce Obama.

Ms. Shafer is waxing poetic about how the president has her back. Like this, Angela?

And 17 minutes after his speech was scheduled to begin, President Obama has arrived on the stage.

Pres Obama cheered by supporters as he begins economic speech in Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/QLn2avTI

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

White man’s overbite! This is officially a campaign speech.

RT @ethanklapper: Crowd estimate of Obama speech, per pool: 1,500

— Centered Politics (@CenteredPols) June 14, 2012

Quiet everyone! Obama is TALKING!

— jon gabriel (@exjon) June 14, 2012

Obama is telling folks with seats to sit down. #framingspeech

— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) June 14, 2012

Ah, the benevolent ruler.

"Polls will go up, and polls will go down. There will be no shortage of gaffes and controversies…." BHO #ObamaMulligan

— Tom Reynolds (@Beregond) June 14, 2012

Obama promises more gaffes.

— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) June 14, 2012

#WeCantWait

"What is holding us back is not a lack of big ideas." That's for damn sure.

— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama says he stands in complete agreement with Mitth Romney in the view that "this election is about our economic future.”

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama says this election presents a stark choice between two different visions on growing the economy, reducing debt & creating jobs.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

And, right on cue, there it is: Eat the rich! Fair share!

Obama: Prosperity never trickled down to the middle class.

— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) June 14, 2012

Pres. Obama says he acted fast and the "economy started growing six months after I took office and has conintued growing."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

"Of course the economy isn't where it needs to be."

— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) June 14, 2012

Derp.

Obama: Conservatives want the government to reduce regulations on the private sector!

Obama: If they win the election, their agenda will be simple — they’ve spelled it out. They’ll roll back regulations…

— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) June 14, 2012

We certainly can’t have that.

"We're digging out of a hole that's 9-million jobs deep," says Obama. "We're digging out of decade where 6 milliohn jobs left our shores."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama acknowledges that "of course the economy isn't where it needs to be." "There's more to do," he concedes.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Also, Republicans don’t want children to be educated or for people to get jobs.

Pres Obama says GOP budget cuts would have severe impact on education, student aid, medical research and health care.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama says the election is about how to grow the economy faster, create more jobs and pay down the debt.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Addressing undecideds or opponents, Pres Obama says if you want to give policies of last decade another try – then vote for Mr. Romney.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama says "Mr Romney is qualified to deliver" on the GOP budget and tax cut plan.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama says the GOP plan didn’t work last time – why would we think it would work this time?

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Right. Unlike the President’s plan, which was awesome.

Obama touting Stimulus 2.0 that couldn't attract simple majority in Democrat-controlled Senate.

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 14, 2012

Standing ovation for Pres Obama as he says he would pursue vision of shared sacrifice and responsibility "in my second term."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

#obamaspin RT @KatrinaTrinko: Obama: "No, I don't believe the government is the answer to all our problems."

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) June 14, 2012

Uh-huh.

Obama just played the Abraham Lincoln card. What a novel approach for him!

https://twitter.com/guypbenson/status/213337960408563712

And, in another surprise move, he just took a moment to bash the free market:

Obama says modern GOP has "a no-holds-barred, government-is-the-enemy, market-is-everything approach"

— Toby Harnden (@tobyharnden) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama says he doesnt believe govt has the answer to all our problems or should be helping people who refuse to help themselves.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

But really, the government can fix everything. By doing things like building pedagogic armies!

"I want to recruit an army of new teachers" & pay them more. –@BarackObama

— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) June 14, 2012

And investing in clean energy!

Pres Obama says his plan would end govt subsidies to oil companies and "put in place" a new clean energy standard.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

"Now's the time to invest more" in clean energy. –@BarackObama

— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) June 14, 2012

"At a time when we have so much deferred maintenance on infrastructure," says Pres Obama, "nows the time to rebuild America."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

President Obama just said that asking Americans to give up more of their money is patriotic. Yes. Really.

"If we want to get the deficit under control — really; not just pretending to…" we have to raise taxes on wealthy. –@BarackObama

— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) June 14, 2012

He also just told his audience not to listen to any of the mean stuff the lying liars will say about him in campaign commercials.

Obama says GOP won't endorse of his policies that call for even a nickel more in taxes.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Calls budget and tax plans the "biggest source of gridlock" in Washington today and says voters are the only ones who can break it.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama says Americans deserve "a real debate" about the differing economic plans he and Romney are proposing.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Obama: “I will work with anyone, in any party, who believes that we’re in this together.” Except for that guy. And that guy. And all those guys over there.

Pres Obama says election can remind world how a strong economy is built: "not from the top down but from a growing thriving middle class."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama ends 53-minute speech telling supporters "this November you can provide a mandate for the change we need right now."

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

It’s over. Man.

That speech really drained my battery.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) June 14, 2012

You said it, Ari.

***

Here’s what people actually affected by the economy are saying:

The excitement is palpable. Will he be "professorial" today or will he drop the "g" off the "ing" words to "connect with the people"?

— SFK (@stephenkruiser) June 14, 2012

I think the president is triangulating against himself here

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) June 14, 2012

Obama Speech: "Problems more than a decade in the making"–i.e., it's Bush's fault.

— David Hogberg (@DavidHogberg) June 14, 2012

This Obama speech might stimulate the economy. #DoingFine Because I might need to buy a new TV.

— sjsturkie (@sjsturkie) June 14, 2012

I blame George W. Bush. RT @jpodhoretz If the Bush tax cuts were so terrible, why did he extend them?

— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) June 14, 2012

We're just a few mins into Obama's speech & he's already bathed in class warfare & blamed Bush. I. Can't. Take. It.

— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) June 14, 2012

"This is not political spin." That means it's political spin.

— James Taranto (@jamestaranto) June 14, 2012

https://twitter.com/jeffemanuel/status/213335543189209088

Obama: I'm growing jobs faster than Bush did. Are you now? http://t.co/kxzW9oMQ

— Political Math (@politicalmath) June 14, 2012

Same economy, too RT @tobyharnden: RT @drewhampshire: Same speech Obama's been delivering for years. Except he now says "Romney" more.

— James Joyner (@DrJJoyner) June 14, 2012

Booooo! People making over $200,000. Booooo!

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) June 14, 2012

It's bad when a Presidential speech hurts my wallet worse than an Apple keynote speech.

— Jimmie (@jimmiebjr) June 14, 2012

I am so glad I'm 19 and not 21, b/c a drinking game on Obama's econ speech would be…well, disastrous.

— Emily Baxter (@EmilyBaxter613) June 14, 2012

Wait, wait. I thought cutting taxes and cutting regulations were bad? Why is Obama taking credit for them now??

— Amanda Carpenter (@amandacarpenter) June 14, 2012

Basically Obama is running as if Romney is the incumbent. Message: The economy is all the Republicans' fault, elect me to fix it.

— Drew Cline (@DrewHampshire) June 14, 2012

Boy this sounds familiar. I think I heard it right before the 2010 election…

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) June 14, 2012

Listening to an Obama speech is like dealing with a stuck pulley on the Titanic's lifeboat.

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) June 14, 2012

Obama: "I want an army of teachers." Translation: "I desperately need new Alinskyite foot soldiers & their forced dues filling my coffers."

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) June 14, 2012

#Solyndra #Solyndra #Solyndra #Solyndra #Solyndra #Solyndra #Solyndra #Solyndra #Solyndra #Solyndra #Solyndra #Solyndra

— Melissa Clouthier (@MelissaTweets) June 14, 2012

So we can keep all that great spending if only rich folks pay a little bit more?

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) June 14, 2012

The reason that jobs bill has been voted down is it is a waste of money. Won't create 1 million jobs, and he knows it.

— David Hogberg (@DavidHogberg) June 14, 2012

This Obama speech is so long-winded it might be the first attempt to filibuster an election.

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) June 14, 2012

I turn on Obama's speech. I hear it is patriotic to pay higher taxes. I turn it off. #ReasonsToVoteForMittRomney

— Jacob Hyde (@Jacob_Hyde_) June 14, 2012

@davidhauptmann How many votes did Obama's budgets get? Oh, right … zero. None even from Democrats.

— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) June 14, 2012

All the job losses and skyrocketing debt aren't great, but the important thing is the president didn't learn any important lesson.

— Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) June 14, 2012

https://twitter.com/MattCover/status/213343889023709184

This is like intellectual waterboarding.

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) June 14, 2012

Obama: "If you want to give the policies of the last decade another try, vote for Romney." Stampede of Americans heads for voting booths.

— John Hayward (@Doc_0) June 14, 2012

Another four years of sacrifice? Killer message, chief. #Obama

— jon gabriel (@exjon) June 14, 2012

This speech is doing just fine.

— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) June 14, 2012

***

Jonathan Alter on MSNBC: "One of the least successful speeches" he's seen Obama give"

— James Pethokoukis (@JimPethokoukis) June 14, 2012

Rut-roh …

https://twitter.com/jeffemanuel/status/213344241806610432

Jonathan Alter on MSNBC: "One of the least successful speeches I've seen Obama give." Way too long, 54 minutes, lost audience.

— jimgeraghty (@jimgeraghty) June 14, 2012

Jonathan Alter’s comment on MSNBC: “This speech was long and I hated it, despite the fact that I’m an adult paid to cover this stuff.”

— Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) June 14, 2012

Well, that Obama speech changed everyzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

— Sean Geary Higgins (@SeanGHiggins) June 14, 2012

***

Ooo! Ooo! And don’t forget, guys! Now that POTUS is finished with his stumpage, David Axelrod is taking your questions. Mwahahahahaha.

***

Oh, and in case you’re curious as to what’s on the docket for the Lightbringer post-speech:

From Cleveland, Pres Obama heads to NYC where he'll visit the site of One World Trade Center for an update as building nears topping off.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Then in NYC, he' doing two campaign fundraisers intended to raise $4.5-million for his re-election bid and the DNC.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

First he attends a fundraiser hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker & Vogue editor Anna Wintour. 50 supporters paying $40,000 per person.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Hope he’s not late!

Then, a 2nd fundraiser at NYC hotel where 250 supporters willl be paying $10,000 per person to help his bid for re-election.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Pres Obama will be joined by the First Lady in addressing the 2nd event. Both fundraisers are print pool coverage only. No TV.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Mariah Carey also performs at the 2nd of Pres Obama's two fundraisers this evening.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Today's trip marks Pres Obama's 22nd visit to Ohio and 26th to NY – his two most frequent destinations (aside from DC neighbors MD & VA.)

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Also worth noting, Pres Obama has done 26 fundraisers for his re-election in NY but none in Ohio.

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) June 14, 2012

Yeah, well, sorry Ohio. Community college students and working mothers can’t afford to spend $40,000 to sit next to Carrie Bradshaw? Sucks to be you.

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/06/14/obama-blows-into-ohio-for-campaign-speech-on-the-economy/