President Obama urged Colorado voters to support him today by citing, among others, the very reason that he remains a vulnerable incumbent.

“[W]e’ve come too far to turn back now,” Obama said in Pueblo, Colo.  “We’ve got too much more work to do.  We’ve got too many good jobs we’ve got to create.  We’ve got too many teachers we still need to hire.  We’ve got too many schools we need to rebuild.” He also emphasized his belief in the renewable energy industry in Colorado, the need to support college students, and to disengage the military from foreign conflicts.

If Obama had fewer jobs still in need of creating, he might not have to fight so hard to keep his own. The national unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent last month  — the second time it has increased this year — as it remained above 8 percent nationally for the 42nd straight month.

Obama criticized the Romney campaign and Republicans for blaming him for the weak economy. “They say the economy is bad and it’s Obama’s fault — every ad is the same argument,” he said. “They don’t have a plan to create more jobs.  They don’t have a plan to revive the middle class.  I’ve got that plan.”