( CNN ) -- Now it begins . All over again . The primary season over and the nominating conventions complete , Mitt Romney and Barack Obama hit the ground running Friday for the final stretch of a campaign that began , for Romney at least , more than a year ago in Iowa . Over the next 60 days of campaigning , much of it focusing on key battleground states , the two men will pitch their visions for the country to a divided electorate . They spent Friday in two states that have long figured prominently in presidential elections , and which are considered up for grabs this year : Iowa and New Hampshire . President Obama , fresh off his speech Thursday night accepting the Democratic presidential nomination , began his day with a rally in Portsmouth , New Hampshire , with Vice President Joe Biden and their wives . Meanwhile , Republican challenger Romney addressed supporters in Orange City , Iowa . Five things we learned from Day Three of the DNC . Later , the candidates swapped states -- with Obama and Biden traveling to Iowa City for an event at the University of Iowa while Romney spoke to supporters in Nashua , New Hampshire . While many of their speeches echoed remarks they 've made in recent weeks , including at their respective national conventions , one new and hot topic Friday -- especially for Republicans -- was a worse-than-expected jobs report issued by the Department of Labor . While unemployment fell to 8.1 % in August from 8.3 % the month before , the dip was largely the result of fewer people looking for work , an analysis of the data showed . The economy added 96,000 jobs in August , but that 's down from 141,000 the month before . Economists polled by CNNMoney had predicted 120,000 new jobs in August . Speaking to reporters Friday in Sioux City , Iowa , Romney called the latest report `` very disappointing , '' stating that for `` every net new job created , approximately four people dropped out of the workforce . '' `` After the party last night , the hangover today , '' Romney said , referring to Thursday 's Democratic National Convention . The former Massachusetts governor also played up the jobs report at his public rallies Friday , vowing to overturn Obama 's signature health plan and institute a number of new policies that he says will energize the economy . `` This economy is going to come back in a big way ... but it is going to require me being elected president , '' Romney said in Nashua , eliciting a roar from the supportive crowd . Obama fired back in his Portsmouth appearance , stressing the positive news that businesses had created jobs for the 30th straight month . But he ackowledged the pace was insufficient . `` We know it 's not good enough . We need to create more jobs , faster , '' the president said . And as he did during his speech Thursday night in Charlotte , North Carolina , Obama specified several economic-related pledges and said it could take years for the economy to be back at full steam . But any progress thus far will be for naught , and everyday Americans will be sold out , if Romney wins the election , he said . Jobs report brings end to Democrats ' convention high . `` If you turn away now -- if you buy into the cynicism that the change we fought for is n't possible -- well , change will not happen , '' he said in his speech . He said voters will have `` a choice between two different paths for America , a choice between two fundamentally different visions for the future . '' In response , Romney said Obama was offering more of the same policies he said have led to high unemployment , rising deficits and a slow economic recovery . `` Americans will hold President Obama accountable for his record -- they know they 're not better off and that it 's time to change direction , '' the Romney campaign said in a statement . In Iowa , he reiterated the charge , and said Obama 's acceptance speech highlighted his opponent 's shortcomings . `` There was nothing in the speech that gives confidence that the president knows what he is doing when it comes to jobs and the economy , '' Romney said . In the latest CNN/ORC International poll -- conducted before the Democratic convention -- Obama and Romney were tied . In the poll of 1,005 likely voters , 48 % said they would support Romney and an identical number backed Obama . About 2 % said they favored neither candidate , and 1 % had no opinion . Breaking down Obama 's speech . CNN 's Tom Cohen and Kevin Liptak and CNNMoney 's Steve Hargreaves contributed to this report .
NEW : Reviving the economy will ` ` with me being elected president , '' Obama says . Barack Obama touts jobs creation , but much more must be done . Both campaigns visited New Hampshire and Iowa on Friday . The states are key battlegrounds in the November election .