Obama accused Republicans in Congress of hoping that Americans have forgotten how the recession started while trying to rollback his first-term accomplishments.
"We didn't forget," Obama said, his voice rising. "We remember. We're not going back. We're going forward."
Obama also promised to gain control of the national budget deficit, using a "balanced" approach that doesn't put the burden on the middle class or elderly citizens.
He mocked Republicans for expressing concern about the deficit after running it up during President Bush's two terms, saying: "They ran up the tab and tried to pass off the bill to me."
Romney, speaking on WPHT-AM Tuesday morning, said his approach to Pennsylvania's coal, oil and natural gas industries would help produce more jobs here if he is elected president.
Romney predicted a close race in Pennsylvania after host Dom Giordano noted that polls show him trailing in the state.
"We see Pennsylvania very much as being in play," Romney said. "We're very early in the process."
Polls of registered voters in Pennsylvania have consistently shown Obama leading Romney, though the president rarely rises to 50 percent in those polls.
A Daily News/Franklin & Marshall Poll last week showed Obama over Romney by 12 percentage points, 48-35 percent.
A Quinnipiac University Poll released Tuesday showed Obama leading Romney by six points in Pennsylvania, 46-40 percent.
Both camps seized on the Quinnipiac poll. Democrats used Gov. Corbett's declining popularity — 47 percent in the poll disapprove of his job — to link him with Romney. Republicans noted that those polled thought Romney would do a better job with the economy by a margin of 49-41 percent.
Romney is scheduled to visit Pennsylvania Saturday as part of a five-day, six-state bus tour. His campaign has not released details about that tour so far.
Politico.com reports that he will hold a campaign fundraiser in Pittsburgh on July 17.
Contact Chris Brennan at 215-854-5973 or email him at brennac@phillynews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisBrennanDN and read his blog, PhillyClout.com.
