An enthusiastic Mitt Romney began a packed final day of campaigning Monday with a rally in Sanford, Fla., declaring that Tuesday's presidential vote would usher in a new era of economic prosperity for the nation.
"Tomorrow we begin a new tomorrow. Tomorrow we begin a better tomorrow," Romney said. "This nation is going to begin to make a change for the better tomorrow. Your work is making a difference, the people of the world are watching, the people of America are watching. We can begin a better tomorrow tomorrow, and with the help of the people of Florida that's exactly what's going to happen."
Romney urged voters in the pivotal swing state — without which Romney has little hope of winning the White House — to head to the polls, warning that "our choice tomorrow is going to lead to one of two very different outcomes." He slammed President Obama on his economic record and his struggles to work with congressional Republicans throughout his first term.
"Unemployment is higher now than it was when President Obama took office," Romney said. "The president thinks more government is the answer. No, Mr. President, more jobs, that's the answer for America."
The Republican presidential nominee said that by contrast, he had a record of being able to implement "real change." And he argued he and running mate Paul Ryan represented an attitude that was more friendly and encouraging toward business.
"For the first time in four years, every entrepreneur, every small-businessperson, every job creator is going to know the president of the United States likes them and likes the jobs they help bring to Americans," Romney said. "Paul Ryan and I believe in limiting government instead of limiting the dreams of our fellow Americans."
While Romney did spend the majority of his remarks powering through some of the critiques that have been a staple of his stump speech for months, and provided a rote recitation of his economic plan, there were multiple points at which he contemplated the implications of the voting that would begin in less than 24 hours.
"We're one day away from a fresh start," Romney said. "One day away from the first day of a new beginning. My conviction is that better days are ahead."
Asking for their vote, Romney told the crowd that "tomorrow is a moment to look into the future and imagine what we could do," and that "one final push is going to get us there."
Romney will spend his day Monday looking for that final push during a mad dash across crucial swing states. In addition to holding his lead in states like Florida and Virginia — the first three stops on his tour — Romney is looking to make gains in Ohio and New Hampshire, which will round out his day. Romney likely needs to win at least Ohio, Florida and Virginia to capture the White House.
Obama, meanwhile, is also spending Monday with a packed campaign schedule, focusing on his Midwestern firewall of Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa with a series of events expected to feature musicians Bruce Springsteen and Jay-Z.
