The hard rock legend said he had never endorsed a presidential candidate before Romney — who joined him on stage to sing a few bars from “America the Beautiful” — but ended his set by telling the 12,000-strong crowd in northwestern Ohio, “Keep rockin’, and Mitt Romney!”

( Also on POLITICO: PHOTOS: Politicians and rockstars)

The Texan singer faulted Obama for saying at Monday’s debate that the Cold War has ended.

“I have never heard such a thing in my life,” he said. “The man needs to understand [Vladimir] Putin and Russia.”

Meat Loaf also said he felt compelled to endorse because of the problems facing the world.

“I have never been in any political agenda in my life, but I think that in 2012 this is the most important election in the history of the United States,” he said. “Because there has (sic) storm clouds come over the United States. There is (sic) thunder storms over Europe. There are hail storms – and I mean major hail storms! – in the Middle East. There are storms brewing through China, through Asia, through everywhere.

“I have been arguing for Mitt Romney for a year. I made three phone calls today to Democrats in California, and I got two of them to switch to Romney, so two out of three ain’t bad.”

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Meat Loaf’s hits include “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” from his bestselling 1977 “Bat Out Of Hell” album.

“Now, I became eligible to vote when I was 21 years old,” he added. “I am 65 years old standing up here tonight in front of you. And I want you to know at 65 that Paul Ryan has not pushed me off the cliff in a wheelchair.”

Romney expressed gratitude for the performances.

“Now I have to tell you I don’t recall having so much fun in such a long time as to be able to listen to these guys this evening,” Romney said, referring to Meat Loaf, who performed along with some other big acts. “I mean, Meat Loaf was here! Can you believe it?”

“Look these guys have other things to do ya know, they have lives,” he said after their sets. “They can go to a concert where they’re getting paid but they decided instead, because this election counts so much, to come here, and I want to thank them for their generosity and support.”

Earlier Thursday, Ann Romney went on Rachel Ray’s cooking show. She made meatloaf.