COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Both presidential candidates are headed back to Ohio as the start of early voting nears.

Republican Mitt Romney plans a cross-state bus tour Tuesday and Wednesday focused on the "Romney Plan for a Stronger Middle Class." Running mate Paul Ryan is to kick off the effort Monday, landing in Dayton and traveling to an event in Lima.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama is planning visits to Bowling Green and Kent on Wednesday. He's highlighting his plan for building the economy "middle-out, not top-down."

The visits come on the heels of a Dispatch/Ohio Newspaper Organization poll out Sunday showing Obama with a 51-46 lead over Romney among likely Ohio voters.

Ohio's early absentee ballots have already been sent to overseas and military voters. Others can begin voting early starting Oct. 2.