By Brad Bumsted

Published: Saturday, November 3, 2012, 3:18 p.m.
Updated: Saturday, November 3, 2012

MIDDLETOWN — From the deficit to jobs, the Romney-Ryan ticket won't duck tough issues and instead will “run at these problems,” Paul Ryan told an enthusiastic crowd gathered here on Saturday, which included some of the state's top Republicans.

“I say in three days, we're in and Obama's out,” Ryan, the GOP vice presidential nominee, said during a stop at Harrisburg International Airport, referring to Election Day on Tuesday.

Ryan heard chants of “three more days” from about 2,000 supporters like Chris Rice of Port Royal, Juniata County.

“I support the Romney-Ryan ticket and want to see them go on to victory,” said Rice, who drove for 11⁄2 hours to get to the event. “Besides getting rid of Obama, we've got to get rid of Democratic senators.”

Rice, 61, a retiree, said he places Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, in that category because of policies he has supported that Rice believes are detrimental to coal. Rice wore a blue-and white “Coal equals Jobs” cap.

“We've got to stop spending money we just don't have,” said Ryan, who campaigned separately from running mate Mitt Romney.

That hurts the economy now and passes off debt to “our children and grandchildren,” Ryan said. “We can't wait four more years.”

Former Gov. Tom Ridge told the crowd “the next time I see (Ryan), I'm going to call him Mr. Vice President.”

“Our enemies, they're not fearful,” said Ridge, the nation's first head of Homeland Security. “We need to be respected around the world.”

President Obama is “appealing to our worst fears,” Ryan told the crowd. “He suggests people vote out of revenge. Mitt Romney and I are asking you to vote out of love of country.”

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Lehigh, Ryan's former roommate in Washington, said the Democrats “want four more years. I say they've got three more days.

“Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are going to turn this economy around,” Toomey said.

Gov. Tom Corbett encouraged people attending to get friends and neighbors to vote and to call any undecideds or independents and sell them on the Romney-Ryan ticket.

Brad Bumsted is state Capitol reporterfor Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 717-787-1405 or bbumsted@tribweb.com.

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