'Defy the Conventional Wisdom,' Obama Urges Democrats

Oct. 31, 2010— -- President Obama closed out his heavy campaign schedule with a spirited rally today in the basketball gym at Cleveland State University, begging Democratic voters to turn out to save incumbents, including Ohio Gov. Tom Strickland.

"You can defy the conventional wisdom," he shouted to a crowd estimated at 8,000.

The 11th-hour polls remain daunting for Democrats in the battleground states, including Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania, where the president concentrated his efforts in the final weekend.

"Don't let anyone tell you your vote doesn't make a difference," Obama told the crowd at Cleveland State.

Ohio is also home to John Boehner, the Republican leader of the House who would become speaker and second in the line of succession to the presidency if Republicans win control of the House, as many experts predict.

The Democratic National Committee has focused it get-out-the-vote effort on several key states: Of the nearly $2.7 million given to state parties, $950,000 went to Illinois, $470,000 to Florida, $325,000 to Pennsylvania and $300,000 to Ohio.

The White House has announced no formal schedule for the president in the final 36 hours before the polls open Tuesday.

There is no word on whether he will invite Republican congressional leaders to the White House Wednesday or Thursday to discuss a future agenda.

Obama departs Friday for the longest foreign trip of his presidency to India, Indonesia, and economic summits in South Korea and Japan.

When he returns, Congress, including members who may have lost their reelection campaigns, goes into a lame-duck session to deal with significant tax-and-spending votes expected before the end of the year.

"In two days, you've got the chance to once again, say what?" Obama prompted the crowd.

And they answered on cue: "Yes, we can."

Despite being unable to move the unemployment numbers, the president has been trying to move Democrats to vote.

In Chicago Saturday night, 30,000 people gathered for a homecoming from the city's native son at Grant Park, the same park where Obama spoke two years ago when he won the presidential election. Now, he is trying to re-ignite the passion that carried him to the White House.