national

COLUMBUS, OHIO - Two years after scoring a decisive win in the seesawing political environment for which Ohio is famous, President Obama returned Wednesday to an altered landscape, where Democratic fortunes are seemingly tipping back the other way.

A fierce battleground in the last three presidential elections, Ohio was good to Democrats in 2008, not only handing the president a victory over John McCain but helping House candidates capture traditional Republican strongholds in cities such as Columbus and Cincinnati.

Now, those first-term House Democrats are fighting for their political lives, the once-popular Democratic governor is in trouble and Obama's popularity within the state has tumbled. Republican challengers, many of them former members of Congress themselves, are poised to take advantage.

The most obvious culprit is the economy. Joblessness in Ohio has spiked since Obama's win, soaring from about 6 percent to more than 10 percent, higher than the nationwide average. The state faces a huge budget shortfall. Republicans are eager to blame the ambitious Democratic agenda on Capitol Hill, charging that it has focused on big-ticket spending programs rather than job creation.

Wednesday marked the president's ninth trip to the state, underscoring Ohio's importance to both parties. And in contrast to the insurgent candidacies of Tea Party-inspired outsiders nationwide, observers say Ohio's contests -- between experienced politicians on both sides -- may serve as a truer barometer of the nation's mood.

The president's stop was part of a three-day, six-state effort to bolster Democratic candidates. Obama spent the morning in the back yard of a residence in a middle-class neighborhood north of the city, taking questions from a friendly crowd of about 40. He used the campaign-style event to laud the effectiveness of his $787 billion stimulus package, financial regulatory reform, and the health care overhaul. And he asked for patience.

"The economy is now growing. We've made progress but let's face it, the progress hasn't been fast enough," Obama said. "Slowly but surely, we are moving in the right direction."

Following the event, Obama spoke at a downtown fundraiser to benefit Gov. Ted Strickland, whose support statewide has eroded as unemployment soared and who is now locked in a tight race with former Rep. John Kasich.