Obama pushes early voting in swing states

• Obama wraps up cross-country trip, urges early voting
• Votes himself today in Chicago
• President stumps in Florida, Virginia and Ohio

RICHMOND, Va. -- President Obama wrapped up a two-day, cross-country dash Thursday by urging people to get out and vote -- immediately.

Speaking to thousands of supporters at a park near downtown Richmond, a raspy-voiced Obama also urged them to "knock doors" and "make some phone calls" to get people to vote, as the Obama campaign and that of Republican Mitt Romney gear up their turnout machines for the final days of the campaign. After the Virginia stop, Obama planned to set an example by flying to Chicago to cast his own early ballot.

"I can't tell you who I'm voting for -- it's a secret ballot," Obama joked in Tampa, the sixth of eight stops on his national tour. He added that another early voter -- first lady Michelle Obama -- "said she voted for me."

Obama will be the first president in history to cast an early vote.

He will continue making the pitch for early voting in weekend campaigning that includes a Friday appearance on MTV and a Saturday rally in Nashua, N.H., another close battleground state.

Early and absentee voting are major priorities for both campaigns, and Obama aides say they have the edge because the turnout machine that generated a record turnout in 2008 has only gotten better with age.

They cited early voting leads by Democratic Party members in such states as Iowa, Florida, Nevada, and Ohio -- all stops on Obama's current tour. Virginia does not have the same kind of early voting system, but does have generous qualifications for absentee ballots that can be cast before Election Day.

After stops on Wednesday in Iowa, Colorado, Nevada and California -- the latter for an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno -- Obama flew overnight for a Thursday morning rally in Tampa.

"You notice, my voice is getting a little hoarse," Obama said in Tampa. "But I'm just going to keep on keeping on until every single person out there who needs to vote is going to go vote. Because the stakes are just so high, Florida."

Then it was on to Virginia.

After voting in Chicago, Obama completes the tour tonight in the same state where Romney spent his entire campaign day: Ohio. The president gives a nighttime speech in Cleveland.

The Republican National Committee says it is catching up to the Obama campaign when it comes to early and absentee voting.

"Republicans are either winning or even with the Democrats in key states across the country, closing the gap from early-vote gains Obama made in 2008," said Republican Party spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski. "Our early-vote numbers are outperforming voter registration in battleground states."