Biden said: "This guy pirouettes more than a ballerina."

The Romney campaign was swift to respond.

"Today, Vice President Biden falsely claimed that Mitt Romney wanted to 'liquidate' the auto industry, and was dishonest about the Administration's own record," Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said in a statement emailed to reporters. "Mitt Romney's support for loan guarantees and warranties for the U.S. auto industry is clear."

"The Obama campaign is less concerned with engaging in a meaningful conversation about his failed policies and more concerned with arguing against facts about their record they dislike. Ohioans see these desperate arguments for what they are, and will choose Governor Romney's positive agenda over President Obama's increasingly desperate attacks."

The statement did not directly respond to Clinton and Biden's slams against the Romney campaign's claim about Jeep moving operations to China.

The rally was a headline event given the Obama campaign's cancellations of other rallies due to Hurricane Sandy.

Both men opened their remarks on that note.

Referring to the president's abrupt Florida trip, Clinton said: "[Obama] got up this morning and called me and said, 'I got to go back right now. This storm's getting out of hand. I got to handle it.' And I said, 'Mr. President, that is the right call'."

Biden also explained the president's change of plans.

"Folks, I know you were expecting the real president...I just want you to know he asked me to express his regrets for not being able to be here. But you know, he's doing the job a president should be doing."

"First and foremost, on behalf of the president, I want to thank all the first responders throughout this country. You know, there are folks from all over America heading to my part of the world to the East Coast to help now. They're coming from all over. There's folks from Ohio heading east. There's a whole lot of folks all over the country. And it's further evidence...that when America stands together we're all better off."