YNN.com

Albany / Schenectady / Troy

Change region

  79º

You are not signed in  |  Sign in here  |  Help

You're viewing a lite version of ynn.com

Time Warner Cable customers: Sign in with your TWC ID for video access.

Get my TWC ID. | Get TWC service. | Read the FAQ.

08/13/2012 09:05 PM

Obama, Paul Ryan stress to Iowans their differing visions

By: Josh Robin

While Mitt Romney would not dwell Monday on how he differs with his running mate Paul Ryan on budget issues, the new Republican vice presidential candidate and President Barack Obama toured Iowa and stress at separate rallies that they believe in different sets of values. YNN's Josh Robin filed the following report.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

Republican vice presidential candidates Paul Ryan's first solo mission on Monday was in Iowa. It was a good launching pad, not just because it's a toss-up state, but because the Wisconsin congressman got to split the local news with President Barack Obama.

"I know Congressman Ryan. He's a good man, he's a family man. He is an articulate spokesman for Governor Romney’s vision. But the problem is that vision is one that I fundamentally disagree with," Obama said at a rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Obama said his opponents want the wealthy to get the biggest tax cuts. He also stresses they would deregulate the financial system and weaken the government safety net.

But Ryan responded that the president has failed on one of the most pressing missions.

"As you see the president come through on his bus tour, you might ask him the same question that I'm getting asked from people all around America, and that is, 'Where are the jobs, Mr. President?" Ryan said.

Iowans are also wondering about relief from the worst drought in decades. The president said Ryan and Republican colleagues in Congress are holding up help, a charge they deny.

Ryan's presence has meant the biggest crowd yet for Republicans, although on Monday he was heckled too.

Meanwhile, Romney was in another swing-state, Florida, praising his pick at a rally in St. Augustine.

"I'm delighted to have picked as my running mate Paul Ryan," Romney said. "A man who has proven that he knows how to solve problems."

The selection is also raising problems. Ryan's support for replacing Medicaid with a voucher system may unnerve seniors. So Republicans are reportedly circulating talking points that stress the GOP wants to strengthen the system, not replace it.

On the other side, Republicans say new Obama waivers make it easier to live off the government, and a Romney ad claims, "Barack Obama has a long history of opposing work for welfare."

But Democrats point out Republicans requested the waivers, for added flexibility.

Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden weighed in at a rally in Durham, N.C.

"These are good guys, by the way. No, no, I really mean it," Biden said. "I think they're decent men, but they have a different value set than we have."