Obama campaign encourages out-of-state college students to register in Ohio at Ohio State visit

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Thousands lined the streets at Ohio State University on Tuesday, ready to see President Barack Obama.

One of the President’s themes was telling young people to vote. Several volunteer campaign workers were out by the lines, with clip boards in hand, to help out anyone that was not registered.

"I registered today," said Kim Chittanom, of Massachusetts. "They asked me if I was registered and I said ‘No.’” She was waiting in the VIP line. "I heard Ohio is a swing state."

A new CNN poll for Ohio shows the race is getting close. Obama is at 51 percent with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney at 47 percent, and with 18 electoral votes up for grabs, the college voters are critical.

The campaign has not been targeting college students alone; rather the focus has been on the out of state voter.

"I'm from outside Boston," said Emma McWilliams, who not only signed up voters, but also registered herself just a few weeks ago. "I'm surprised that if I am not from Ohio that I can vote.”

Next down the line from her was Ashlei Peterson.

"Missouri used to be a swing state and now it's leaning red," Peterson said. She was with a group of friends who are from other states, but registered here in Ohio. "I thought my vote would count more here than in Missouri."

It's not clear how many voters were registered while standing in line, but one thing was: the Obama campaign was going after every vote.

According to the Obama campaign, there were 15,000 people at the Oval for Tuesday's event.