President Barack Obama wants to portray himself as a tax cutting friend of the middle class. He described the Republicans as defenders of the rich. The incumbent president hopes that the pitch would help him win in the solidly conservative state of Virginia. Middle Class

The president maintained that the tax cuts he was pushing would extend Bush-era cuts for incomes up to $250,000. He said he will ridicule anyone who denies it. He said that he have cut taxes for middle class families by an average of $3,900 since he was president.

President Obama was met with cheers when he said that he needs the same enthusiasm he got in 2008 that made him the first Democratic presidential nominee to win Virginia since President Lyndon Johnson in 1964. He added that this year’s presidential race is going to be a close one. To win the election, he must win Virginia.

He criticized the Republicans for voting in the House of Representatives this week to repeal his health care reform law. This was already their 33rd vote to repeal or curb the president’s landmark law. All of them died in the Democratic controlled Senate.

Obama added that the House should vote for his proposal to extend the Bush era tax cuts for incomes below $250,000 per year. He noted that the proposal would affect 98 percent of taxpayers, while the Republicans refuse to act on it unless it covers tax cuts for all incomes.

A new poll released Friday showed that majority of American, including majorities of Obama supporters such as Latinos, young voters, and lower-income workers, opt for the Republican proposal to extend the Bush tax cuts for all incomes to include those higher than $250,000.

Mitt Romney answered back in an open letter to the president that focused on the defense budget cuts. His letter stated that the budget cuts the president signed into law will hit Virginia hard. It could result into 200,000 troops forced from service.