Romney Heads To Ohio [VIDEO]

Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan look to shrug off the latest in a series of unwanted distractions when they face Ohio voters as the Republican presidential ticket for the first time.

The two men will appear at a Columbus-area rally Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after Romney raised the discredited rumor that President Barack Obama wasn't born in the United States.

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The comment, and his efforts to explain it, overshadowed Romney's economic message.

The Ohio rally is expected to be Romney's final public appearance of the weekend ahead of the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.

While GOP officials suggest they have momentum on their side heading into the convention, Romney and his party have faced tough questions in recent weeks on Medicare and abortion.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)