Watch CBS News

Ryan Rallying In Colorado, Romney To Join Him At Red Rocks

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) - Paul Ryan is in Colorado stumping for Mitt Romney on a critical day highlighted by the last presidential debate.

The Republican vice presidential candidate will be in Pueblo Monday morning for a speech before traveling to Durango. He'll be in Grand Junction in the evening where he'll watch the last debate, which will focus on foreign policy. He also spoke in Colorado Springs on Sunday night.

Ryan's visit comes during a week when both campaigns are courting voters in Colorado, where the race is expected to be close.

Romney will join Ryan for a rally Tuesday at Red Rocks amphitheater in Morrison.

President Barack Obama will be back in Colorado on Wednesday to speak at Denver's City Park.

Ryan Criticizes Obama In Colorado Springs

Ryan on Sunday in Colorado Springs criticized President Barack Obama for planned reductions in military spending scheduled to kick in at the end of the year, saying it was a sign to the country's enemies that it was weak.

Rep. Ryan himself voted for the cuts as part of last year's deal to raise the debt ceiling. But he now argues that he wants to replace them with other reductions in federal spending but that the president won't allow that.

The spending cuts were front and center during a brief speech by Ryan in this city, home to both the Ft. Carson military base and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

"We are not going to gut our military," Ryan vowed before a rally of about 1,000 people, specifically citing soldiers at Ft. Carson. "You honor us and we will honor you."

He said strong military spending was part of the GOP ticket's plan for "peace through strength."

"Our adversaries, when they see us projecting weakness, when they see us hollowing out our military...they think we are a superpower in decline," he said, in a likely preview of an attack Mitt Romney will launch in Monday's foreign policy debate.

Ryan's voice was noticeably hoarse and he spoke for only 12 minutes, less than usual.

Additional Resources

For tickets to the Red Rocks event visit RomneyColorado.com.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.