Beginning in the summer of 2012, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama crisscrossed Ohio while campaigning in one of America's perennial battleground states.
On Election Night, Ohio was too close to call until after midnight, when the state once again proved a bellwether, delivering its 18 electoral votes and an Electoral majority to President Barack Obama with 51% of the vote.
Obama did well in the urban areas of the state, but also made significant ground in southern Ohio, an area that voted against him four years prior.
A woman walks toward the entrance of Village Green Park to hear Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) campaign on August 25, 2012 in Powell, Ohio.
Secret Service police stand atop the Reed's Building on August 1, 2012 in downtown Mansfield, Ohio before a campaign event with President Barack Obama.
Two Secret Service agents stand in the press area during a campaign event with President Barack Obama on August 1, 2012 in Mansfield, Ohio.
A Romney campaign staff member brings up chairs for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and N.J. Gov. Chris Christie for use during their town hall meeting on October 10, 2012 at Ariel Corporation in Mount Vernon, Ohio.
A woman holds up a child for a better view before Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's final stop on his four-state bus tour on August 14, 2012 in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Undecided voter Laura Lindeman stands in a tree for a better view of President Barack Obama as he campaigns on August 21, 2012 at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.
President Barack Obama waves to supporters following a campaign rally on August 21, 2012 at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.
A anti-Obama sign sits on display near Mentor High School before President Barack Obama campaigned on November 3, 2012 in Mentor, Ohio.
An anti-Romney protestor holds up a sign outside the entrance to Westerville South High School where Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigned on September 26, 2012 in Westerville, Ohio.
Sommy Nuanmanee, 14, right, of Mentor, Ohio, listens with his sister, Chintana, center, as President Barack Obama campaigns on November 3, 2012 at Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio.
After arriving on his campaign jet, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addresses a crowd of 10,000 during a campaign rally on November 5, 2012 at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio.
President Barack Obama's motorcade drives past supporters following a campaign event at the UAW's Labor Day celebration on September 3, 2012 at Scott High School in Toledo, Ohio.
Ohio Wesleyan students Zoe Crankshaw, left, and Ryan Haddad, right, listen as First Lady Michelle Obama campaigns on October 15, 2012 at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.
Tom Miller, center, of Bexley, Ohio, chants "One more day!" in reference to Election Day, and a hopeful defeat of President Obama, during a campaign rally with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on November 5, 2012 at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio.
Coal miners listen as Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney addresses the crowd on August 14, 2012 at American Energy Corporation's Century Mine in Beallsville, Ohio.
President Barack Obama wipes sweat off his brow while speaking on July 5, 2012 at the Wolcott House Museum in Maumee, Ohio where he began a two-day bus tour through Ohio and Pennsylvania. Temperatures climbed into the high 90s during the President's speech.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney kisses his wife, Ann, as they greet the crowd during a campaign rally on November 5, 2012 at Port Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio.
A Secret Service agent stands watch behind the stage as President Barack Obama prepares to leave following a campaign event on October 17, 2012 on the College Green at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
