WASHINGTON (August 2, 2012)--President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney are campaigning in three of the most tightly contested states, working to raise their profiles with a public otherwise preoccupied with vacations, the Olympics and the sweltering August heat.

Pushing competing economic messages, Mr. Obama headed for Florida and Virginia Thursday while Romney campaigned in hard-fought Colorado.

Romney is making his first political appearance since his return from an overseas trip.

He plans to be joined by 10 Republican governors, several of whom have been mentioned as potential running mates.

Mr. Obama was headed to Orlando to make up for an appearance he postponed last month after the shooting tragedy in Aurora, Colo.

Later Thursday he was to campaign in Leesburg, Va., in the Washington suburbs.