Obama riding a sinking ship - Romney

US: Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney said President Barack Obama's campaign was "taking on water" Tuesday, as the rivals barnstormed across toss-up states while seeking swing votes two weeks before election day.

With their debates behind them, the candidates raced out of the blocks and onto the campaign trail, hoping to corral the most ballots from the shrinking pool of Americans still undecided in a race heading for a photo finish.

At a rally in Henderson, Nevada, Romney claimed he had the momentum, saying the debates have "supercharged" his White House bid and brought him that much closer to victory in November 6. "His campaign is taking on water and our campaign is full speed ahead," he said.

The line was a clear swipe at the president's condescending comment during Monday night's debate.

Obama mocked his challenger by saying that working with the military was not like playing a game of "Battleship."

Romney was riding a tide of campaign optimism, however, and presenting himself as a voice of change, as he sought to peel away the states of Nevada and Colorado from Obama's column.

"His is a status quo candidacy. His is a message of going forward with the same policies of the last four years. And that's why his campaign is slipping. And that's why ours is gaining so much steam," Romney said. AFP