Rockingham County offered raucous crowds Friday afternoon for the Republican vice-presidential nominee. Paul Ryan stressed Virginia's vital role in the election, and the role of private enterprise in reviving the economy.
The Republican VP nominee called for a moment of silence to honor the Americans killed in the attack on the U.S. embassy in Libya. But Ryan spent most of his time emphasizing the sharp contrasts in economic policy. A stirring soundtrack and 2,000 to 3,000 eager supporters welcomed Paul Ryan to the Rockingham County Fairgrounds.
Ryan began with crowd-pleasing remarks that he's no stranger to the valley. "I have canoed this area, I have fished this area, I have backpacked this area. And my iPhone has blaze orange and camouflage," he said.
But Ryan quickly got serious when he spoke of government stimulus efforts, including the ones announced this week by the Federal Reserve.
Ryan called it "sugar high economics." "All of this money being printed by the Federal Reserve... it hurts savers; it hurts seniors on fixed incomes. We need honest money. We need sound money," he said.
Much of this campaign has been dominated by domestic issues like jobs, the economy and health care. But many of the folks we spoke with at the Romney-Ryan rally believe that this week's events in the Middle East could have a huge impact on the election.
Kathy Walker, who attended the rally, said, "We need another Ronald Reagan in the White House that will stand up and speak to those that are desecrating our flag and killing our diplomats."
Virginia Delegate Dickie Bell said, "That whole foreign policy by this administration is cause for concern. But I really think, bottom line, when folks vote they're going to vote based on the economy."
Ryan spoke only briefly on foreign policy, but said the United States should offer no apology for its founding principles or its leadership in the world. Ryan told supporters that no matter what generation they're a part of, this is the most important election of their lives.
