"I think young voters in this country have to vote for me if they're really thinking about what's in the best interest of their country and what's in their personal best interest," Romney said Monday in Pennsylvania after announcing his support for an effort Obama pushed last week to keep the interest rate on federal student loans from doubling in July.

"The president's policies have led to extraordinary statistics. When you look at 50 percent of kids coming out of college today can't find a job or can't find a job which is consistent with their skills, how in the world can you be supporting a president that has led to that kind of economy?" Romney said. "I think young people will understand that ours is the party of opportunity and jobs."

While Republicans don't anticipate erasing the Democrats' long-held advantage among the younger-than-30 voter group, they would like to trim it enough to help Romney win the White House.

His aides and advisers have been sharpening a message that assails Obama for an economy that has young people feeling the pinch, too.

Read more on Newsmax.com: Obama Economy Driving Youth Vote to Romney