Mr. Obama defended his efforts to strengthen the U.S. economy, which included unpopular moves to bail out banks and rescue automakers.

He also touted his more popular effort to reform the nation's financial industry and hold bank executives more accountable. "I just want to have some rules in place so that when these guys make dumb decisions, you do not end up having to foot the bill. That is pretty straightforward. I do not mind having that fight," he said.

Mr. Obama smiled and joked throughout the forum, and earlier, as he toured the community college's wind turbine lab.

The president also made an unscheduled stop at a local restaurant, where he spoke briefly with a 98-year-old man and bought another man a bowl of chili on his birthday.

The politically-mixed state of Ohio is often crucial to presidential campaigns. And Mr. Obama's approval ratings have slipped as the nation's unemployment rate hovers around ten percent.