PARMA, Ohio -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney sent two GOP heavyweights to northern Ohio Thursday to beat President Barack Obama's similar bus tour to the punch.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, traveling on Romney's campaign bus, stopped at Parma's Kentown Plaza to emphasize what they say is a gap between what Obama has promised and what he has delivered.

But a physical clash between Romney supporters and protesters overshadowed the Parma campaign stop by the prominent pair, who are often mentioned as possible running mates for Romney.

The quarrel broke out as soon as Pawlenty took the stage before about 200 people at the strip shopping center.

"Pawlenty go home, Pawlenty go home," the protesters chanted over the former governor's speech.

Pawlenty maintained composure and even put his own twist on the chant.

"We should send Barack Obama home," he declared.

At one point, Romney supporter Richard Brysac of Parma confronted protester Al Neal of Canton, who attended with a handful of members of a group called Fight for Fair Economy Ohio.

Brysac, 77, attempted to hush Neal by emptying a bottle of water into the 25-year-old union worker's mouth.

"He seemed thirsty, so I tried to shove the bottle in his mouth," Brysac said. "I thought it was wrong to interfere with [Pawlenty's] freedom of speech.

"I acted out of character and I apologize if I offended anyone."

When the bottle didn't work, Brysac pulled out his handkerchief and gagged Neal.

Neal removed the handkerchief and continued chanting until the group of protesters was escorted from the rally.

Mitt Romney rally spurs confrontation in Parma 7 Gallery: Mitt Romney rally spurs confrontation in Parma

Kentown Plaza is private property.

No police were present.

National media picked up the story of the confrontation, which Cuyahoga County Democrats labeled "Bottled Watergate."

During the commotion, Pawlenty attacked Obama's ability to create jobs, reduce the deficit and boost the economy. He also used his six-minute speech to rib the president's Affordable Care Act.

"We should all bet on America," Pawlenty said, playing on the theme of the president's bus tour through Ohio. "But we shouldn't double-down on Barack Obama. We shouldn't double-down on this president because his presidency has been a losing game."

Jindal piggy-backed on Pawlenty's message.

"Do you remember, at the beginning of this administration, [Obama] said, 'If we don't turn around the economy in three more years, I'll be a one-time president?' Jindal asked. "Let's hold him to that promise."

The rally concluded with Jindal accusing Obama of being "the most liberal and incompetent president since Jimmy Carter."

After the rally, State Rep. Nick Celebrezze of Parma and North Shore Federation of Labor Executive Secretary Harriet Applegate -- both Democrats -- rebutted the GOP messages from across the street.

"President Obama bet on the American worker, American manufacturing and ingenuity, and now American auto manufacturing is back on top of the world," Celebrezze said.

Jindal and Pawlenty made a campaign stop in Maumee earlier in the day. The bus headed to Mahoning Valley after the 30-minute visit in Parma.

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