Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake today released the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s speech in Cleveland, Ohio:

Today, we heard President Obama articulate his strong vision for creating jobs, reducing the national debt, and fostering a climate of innovation and entrepreneurship in America.

At a time of great economic uncertainty, our President made the tough choices and smart investments that created new economic opportunity for the people of Baltimore. We cannot afford to follow Mitt Romney’s path, which would return our country to the failed ‘Bush-era’ policies of the past: Big Tax cuts for the wealthiest first and no rules for Wall Street—all while middle class families fall further and further behind.

As the President has said, this election is a make or break moment for the middle class. Baltimore cannot afford to go backwards. America must move forward. President Obama has the right vision for an economy that’s built to last, where everyone plays by the same rules, everyone gets a fair shot, and all families have a chance to achieve the American dream.