I have heard that the election is over in Ohio, but it seems that there are a large number of Republicans and independents that disagree with that conclusion.

A victory in Ohio is critical to defeating Pres Obama in November and it seems to be going back to "toss up" status.

Polls have shown Obama's previous leads have evaporated and he and Romney are now tied nationally at 47%. Obama's lead in Ohio, where he had been enjoying leads of up to eight points, has been cut to about four points, according to the latest CNN/Orc poll.

Newly energised Republicans are turning out in droves for Mitt Romney in the state that could decide the election, Ohio, as previously confident Democratic activists have begun to display signs of nervousness.

At a rally at Cuyahoga Falls on Tuesday night, Romney attracted one of the biggest turnouts of his campaign so far, an estimated 12,000, with thousands more stuck outside, unable to get through security in time.

The response of the crowds so far is a long way from 'Romneymania' but there are strong signs of growing Republican confidence as a result of last week's debate and the narrowing of the polls.

The crowd, responding to Obama supporters' chants at rallies of "four more years", shouted: "four more weeks".