SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan pressed the flesh during his first visit to Northwest Iowa.
After starting the day in Council Bluffs, the Wisconsin Congressman spoke to voters in Sioux City.
As hundreds lined up inside Bev's on the River, many more waited outside for the Republican hopeful to take the stage.
Mitt Romney first brought his campaign to Siouxland in September. Busy preparing for Monday's last presidential debate, the Republican handed over the job of rallying voters to his running mate.
Introduced by Iowa Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, Paul Ryan took the stage and went after the President.
"The president isn't even laying out a second term agenda. All he's doing is basically talking about Mitt Romney. He's trying to distort Mitt Romney's record. He's trying to distract voters," said Ryan.
The 15-minute speech left little time for details, but Ryan assured the 800 in the crowd that Mitt Romney would do more for the economy than another four years under Barack Obama.
"We not going to spend the next four years blaming other people, we're going to take responsibility and fix this mess in Washington," he said.
Ryan claimed that small businesses like this Sioux City restaurant will see a tax hike if the President is reelected.
"President Obama wants to tax our manufacturers, our job creators, our small businesses, all those businesses at all of our industrial parks at over 40%. That's not how you create jobs, that's how you lose jobs," said Ryan.
On Energy, the Wisconsin Republican said the Ryan/Romney ticket has the better plan.
"We have so much energy in this country, so much energy in these three states. Let's use that energy and put people back to work," Ryan said.
Ryan pointed out that the race for the White House is about more than just jobs.
"It's more than just these paycheck economic issues, it's about the meaning of America," said Ryan.
He relied on his own Midwest background to get his message across.
"Fellow Midwesterners, Big 10-staters, what ever we want to call ourselves, the secret, the future, it runs through our states," Ryan pointed out.
With the Missouri River behind him, Ryan talked about last year's flood flight.
"This is what Americans do when they come together to help one another," said.
He asked Iowans to come together again in the fight for the White House.
"Iowans could be the ones who decide the direction of this country. Right here in the Midwest, right here in Iowa, you have a big responsibility. you have a big obligation, you have a big opportunity," Ryan explained.
Scores of secret service accompanied Ryan, while local police, sheriff's deputies and metal detectors welcomed guests as they arrived to Bev's on the River.
The heightened security presence was even seen on the Mighty Mo.
Two boats patrolled the waters closest to the event, keeping boaters to the Nebraska shoreline and away from the Iowa side of the river.
