Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan campaigned in western Iowa Sunday, mentioning Monday’s final debate between his running mate Mitt Romney and President Obama.
“You take a look at what the president’s doing and what the president’s saying, at what he’s done. He’s not offering anything new or any second-term agenda,” Ryan said. “We’ve had three debates. We’ve had lots of campaigning and all we’re getting is a smaller and smaller campaign,.”
Ryan told a crowd in Council Bluffs this is no “ordinary” election. Iowa’s no ordinary state on the Electoral College map either, as both campaigns consider this a toss-up state that could tip the balance on Election Night.
“Iowa, you’re so used to it. You’re used to being the eye of the storm. You’re using to seeing this,” Ryan says. “You have a responsibility and an opportunity and an obligation to help us get this country back on the right track, so that we look back at this moment when we reclaimed our freedoms.”
Shortly after noon on Sunday, Ryan spoke to about 1200 people in the parking lot of a Bass Pro Shop in council Bluffs — near the arena where Vice President Joe Biden rallied with about 500 local Democrats on October 4. Ryan opened by giving a first quarter score from the Green Bay Packer’s game. He later cited Nebraska’s 29-28 victory over Northwestern on Saturday as an example of Midwestern “perseverance.”
“Iowa State’s having a great year. The Cornhuskers are a great team, the Hawyekes — Big Ten Country, that’s where we are,” Ryan said. “And in Big Ten Country, we take care of our kids. We take care of our neighbors. We’re honest.We tackle our problems and we want to look back at this moment as the time we got it right.”
At the GOP’s national convention this summer Ryan said his campaign play list would be different from what his running mate Mitt Romney prefers. The AC/DC standard “Rock ‘N Roll Train” played at the beginning of Ryan’s rally in Council Bluffs.
The opening lyrics, “One hot angel. One cool devil. Your mind on the fantasy, Livin’ on the ecstasy,” played just before Ryan appeared to say: “Wow! Thank you so much Council Bluffs!”
The tune was on AC/DC’s “Black Ice” album and was the opening song for the band’s concerts after the album’s release.
AUDIO of Ryan’s speech in Council Bluffs.
Ryan spoke later in Sioux City.
Shortly after five o’clock, the campaign issued a written statement from Ryan, a response to mass shooting Sunday morning in Wisconsin. Three died, four were injured in a shooting in Brookfield, which is near Milwaukee. Authorities say the suspected shooter has been found dead.
“Janna and I were shocked and saddened by the news from Brookfield today,” Ryan said. “As our community continues to heal from August’s tragic violence, our thoughts and prayers are with today’s victims and their loved ones. Our gratitude also goes to the first responders who rushed to save lives and secure the scene. We will not allow the evil responsible for this heartbreaking event to triumph over the spirit of the people of Wisconsin. I ask all Americans to keep those affected by this event in their hearts, minds, and prayers today.”
On August 5, a gunman killed six and injured three others before fatally shooting himself at a Sikh temple south of Milwaukee.
(This story was updated at 5:10 p.m. with additional information)