By

Lucy Madison /

CBS News/ November 5, 2012, 2:03 PM

Obama: I'm the one you can trust with change

President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks at a campaign event, Monday, Nov. 5, 2012, in Madison, Wis.

/ AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

In his last campaign swing of the 2012 election, President Obama today made his final pitch for support in Wisconsin, urging voters in the critical battleground state to trust him - and not Mitt Romney - with the change America needs as they head to the polls tomorrow.

The president, growing hoarse before a crowd of 18,000 in Madison, acknowledged that the change he promised four years ago has been slower in coming than some people - himself included - might have hoped. But at the end of the day, he said, voters have a reason to trust him.

"Wisconsin, you know me by now. You may not agree with every decision I've made -- you know, Michelle doesn't either. You may be frustrated at the pace of change. I promise you, so am I sometimes. But you know that I say what I mean and I mean what I say," he said, ticking off a list of accomplishments from his four-year tenure. "You know where I stand, you know what I believe, you know I tell the truth... So when I say, Wisconsin, that I know what real change looks like, you've got cause to believe me because you've seen me fight for it, you've seen me deliver it, you've seen the scars on me to prove it, you've seen the gray hairs on my head to show you what it means to fight for change.

Amid a recent shift by the Romney campaign to embrace a "change" message of its own, the president has been vehement in his efforts to discredit the possibility that the former Massachusetts governor would truly embrace new, forward-thinking policies.

"Governor Romney's a very talented salesman and in this campaign he's tried as hard as he can to repackage the same old bad ideas and make them out to be good ideas," the president said. "He's trying to convince you that these bad old ideas are change...Giving the power back to the biggest banks - that's not change... Refusing to answer questions about your policies until after the election - that's not change, that's the oldest game in the book!"

This election, said Mr. Obama, is about "trust."

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Bruce Springsteen opens for Obama in Madison, Wis.

"I ran because the voices of the American people - your voices- had been shut out of our democracy for way too long by lobbyists, and special interests, and politicians who will say and do anything just to keep things the way they are. To protect the status quo," he said.

Republicans, he said, are counting on voters to be so "worn down" and "fed up" with the squabbling and dysfunction in Washington that they "give up and walk away" and "leave them right where they are pulling the strings."

"In other words, their bet is on cynicism," he said. "You know what? Sometimes you've got to fight. Sometimes you've got to stand on principle. If the price of peace in Washington is cutting students off financial aid or getting rid of funding for Planned Parenthood, or letting insurance companies discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, or eliminating health care for millions of folks on Medicaid who are poor, or elderly, or disabled - I won't pay that price. That's not a deal I'll take. That's not bipartisanship...that's not change. That's surrender. That's surrender to the same status quo that's been squeezing middle-class families for way too long."

Circling back to his 2012 refrain, Mr. Obama called on Wisconsinites to "keep pushing forward."

"We'll finish what we started," he said.

The president's final campaign events reflect the importance his campaign sees in holding onto his so-called Midwestern firewall. After his Wisconsin rally, the president heads to Ohio and Iowa for his final rallies of the 2012 election.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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    Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.

131 Comments Add a Comment
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esflknr says:
Agreed with all of the above written by JohnEurope. This is a must-win time for America, else we will see all that we cherish eviscerated by a Socialist President and his cronies.

The last four years have shown us a prelude to what Obama intends to do with the nation and its rule of law. He has far exceeded any President in history in terms of inflating our cost of living, lowering our employment rates, burdening the nation with unconstitutional legislation, and, worst of all, a despotism through Executive Orders emboldened by a lackluster Congress. He does not respect his opposition, but vilifies and excoriates it in the truest fashion of a tyrant.

This man puts Franklin Delano Roosevelt to shame, and, if we do not replace him, we will see another Robert Mugabe emerge from the shell of the man so many think they already know. Mark my words.
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johneurope says:
What is not being said, Romney must win for the American People.
The Sum Of All Fears Realy
" The next President will appoint at least two and maybe three Supreme Court Justices.
If that Prez is Obama, it is all over but the shooting. He will appoint more Sotomayors, Kagans, Ginzbergs and Breyers. The Bill of Rights will be eviscerated, along with the 2nd Amendment.'

One doesn't win by losing.

The above would equate to civil war,
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GOP-R--Con-Men says:
Ever notice republicans NEVER run budget deficits on spending to help average Americans? They ALWAYS waste taxpayer dollars on things to empty the treasury without helping people. This is strategic by republicans. They do this and then cry the country is broke and we can't afford that! They do this because they NEVER want average americans to think government can help and enhance them. They ALWAYS use government to help corporations, big oil and the wealthy, not average Americans. This is why republicans ALWAYS speak negatively of government. Wake up people!
This is why they have been on a 30 plus year crusade against governemnt. To convince average Americans that government is no good and cannot do anything positive for them. They use the term Limited Government" what they really mean is republican we limit governments ability to help and enhance the lives of average Americans while enhusiastically supporting corporations, big oil and the super rich ability to step over ordinary americans.
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GOP-R--Con-Men replies:
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Republicans are using and playing on the racism against President Obama of some voters to get them to vote republican. Which ironically is the very party that has blocked and stopped every piece of legislation from President Obama and Democrats that would help average Americans. This election voters will decide whether to reward the republican party which ahs brazenly worked to keep struggling americans jobless or reward President Obama for constantly fighting against them on behaf of average Americans.
Wake Up Voters!
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Fed-Up_Patriot says:
JGG and REPUBS_R thanks for your sincere answers.. This is what I want - sincere discussion from the heart... The country is deep trouble. This is the get real - crunch time for all of us. Not time for the grade school playground back and forth of partisan politics. May that little voice of what's good inside each one us - steer us collectively as nation towards the correct answer.
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doubleecho-2009 says:
At this late point in the game, if you haven't decided - DON'T VOTE, you are a moron!
Doesn't matter though - President Obama - 4 more years by a landslide!
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Fed-Up_Patriot says:
I'm an independent from Florida in a very critical voting county for this entire swing state. and I'm still not 100% sure who I'm going to vote for.. With all the lies that have been said by all sides can ANY DEM or Republican out there explain to me why at this point they still Trust their candidate? And Why I should trust them with my vote for the presidency? I want sincere answers from the heart not partisan BS... please.. So far I HAVE HUGE TRUST ISSUES and can't stomach the thought of voting for either... I also can't stand that the thought of either of these men representing our country on the world stage. I don't see leadership material when I see these two men... Just CON MEN... If this is the best our country could come up with it's embarrassing.

I always try to learn from others... Do any of you guys know anything unique or special about the character of your candidate that has merit and should be considered? What is it that you see that I don't see? If you truly believe in your candidate please tell me why.. I need something to believe in... Also why do I get this sinking feeling in my stomach that this may be the very last presidential election that we the people of the United States may get to vote for? I take my vote seriously. You'd have to be a fool not to see the survival of the republic is truly in question.
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Fed-Up_Patriot replies:
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Somebody help me please... I'm going through the sample ballot as we speak researching each issue deciding how to vote responsibly.
Fed-Up_Patriot replies:
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Why do a feel like we are all on a sinking ghost ship? Undead skeleton crew and all. Everything is dark but up in the bridge can be seen a choice of which fake plastic puppet captain to place at the wheel. Through the fog it can seen by all on deck that we're steaming along at top speed towards more ice burgs. Strangely nobody amongst the living seems to be that concerned. Is this how folks on the Titanic felt just before the very end?
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wfw3536 says:
Oh, you mean like in the 2nd debate that Obama said it was an act of terrorism the day of the attack in Libya where 4 brave Americans died. Now we find out the next day during a CBS interview for 60 Minutes Obama said he didn't know. And what is shameful is CBS did not play this part of the interview and just release it today. How sad for our military when they would never leave one of their own behind that they were asked to stand down twice during that several hour battle and Obama will not tell us the truth. What was Obama doing in the White House while they watched the battle in real time with a drone overhead. Why for a couple weeks Obama never talked about terrorism and instead tried to deflect this on a film. It is shameful that CBS did not release this part of the interview until now. I always heard the national media was for Obama.
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YourRearViewMirror1 replies:
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Make the most use of your previous time at Politico.com and/or Foxnews.com
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1988JAck says:
Obama is right on. That's why the rich ultra right wing has thrown so much filth and money against him.
But Americans are greater than that. Welcome to your second term Mr. President.
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sooner_schooner says:
Change from what, yourself? You've been the president the last four years, idiot.
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llwtruth replies:
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Excellent reply! It's amazing how he says this, and people cheer. What are they cheering? He's done nothing but take us in the wrong direction, and he's asking people to "trust" him? It's unbelievable.
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TimeToEvolve says:
I agree you can trust Obama to fight terror and to withstand the right wing corporate Republicon march to fascism. You can trust him to fight for families and for middle class workers. You can trust him to keep America with some semblance of decency and respect in the world in spite of the Wall Street corporate wackos.
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Fed-Up_Patriot replies:
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Really? You believe this for real? I want a sincere answer a sincere answer from your heart. I want to know how you think - American to American.. WOW... You'd be the first person I've seen on here in days that TRULY believes in their candidate... Most folks I see just repeat the party lines and point to the evils and misdeeds of the other. This game the Dem, Repub partisan hacks are doing where they go "Oh yeah - but don't look at the evil stuff my favored candidate has done here - look over here - See there - your candidate is far worse". I think most Americans see this election as a lesser of 2 evils type approach but I could be wrong... I see nothing AT ALL to be happy about... I don't share your optimism. I DREAD TOMORROW.
doubleecho-2009 replies:
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You are correct - the alternative is the rule of the Republicons who have a GREAT deal more interest in making money for themselves and their "friends" than in actually taking charge of a nation & doing what is right!
President Obama wants to to what is RIGHT for ALL Americans, not just the wealthy few - which is why he is so HATED by them!
Four more years in just a few more hours!
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