“Both the Democrat and the Republican are running for president of Ohio”

The Democratic and Republican presidential candidates ignore states where the election is not in question and spend almost all of their time in contested or “battleground” states. The state of Ohio is usually a “battleground state” in presidential elections. “Bush and Kerry are neck and neck in the polls, and often seem to be running for president of Ohio” was said in the 2004 presidential election.
 
One running joke in the 2012 presidential election was that both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney were running for president of Ohio. “You could be forgiven over the next few weeks if you get the impression that President Obama and Mitt Romney are running for president of Ohio” was said on NPR on October 10, 2012.
 
   
LA Weekly (Los Angeles, CA)
Going Back to Ohio
Bush trolls for votes in the land of closing factories
By Howard Blume Thursday, Aug 12 2004
Bush and Kerry are neck and neck in the polls, and often seem to be running for president of Ohio, as their bus caravans nearly cross each other’s paths.
     
Baby Gaga Forums
khigh
October 4, 2012
Yep. With the way people talk, you would think they were running for president of Ohio.
 
NPR
As Election Nears, Ohio Gets More Attention
by SCOTT HORSLEY
October 10, 2012
RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:
And I’m Renee Montagne.
 
You could be forgiven over the next few weeks if you get the impression that President Obama and Mitt Romney are running for president of Ohio. Both are spending plenty of time in that state - a state that decided the election for George W. Bush in 2004.
 
Princeton Election Consortium
Ms. Jay Sheckley // Oct 16, 2012 at 12:26 pm
(...)
On the other paw, some days it seems these guys are running for president of Ohio.
 
Daily Kos
These candidates are not running for the President at this point, they are running for President of Ohio.
LOL but true.
and he likes the President’s chances in Ohio.
by wishingwell on Tue Oct 16, 2012 at 12:56:07 PM PDT
   
SBRforum.com
d2bets
October 16, 2012, 05:05 PM
Why are we talking about polls representing 50 states when they are running for President of Ohio. That’s practically the only poll that matters.
 
FireDogLake
Ohio Remains Obama’s Firewall
By: Jon Walker Thursday October 18, 2012 1:17 pm
(...)
COMMENTS
tremoluxman October 18th, 2012 at 2:55 pm
So basically, like Jon Stewart said, “They’re running for president of Ohio.”