Ryan: 'It's Not Too Late to Get This Right'

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan knows how important New Hampshire is to the outcome of this year’s election, and he didn’t hesitate to send that message to a crowd of supporters at Pinkerton Academy in Derry.

“A handful of states will settle this election,” Ryan said. “You are the Granite State. You have an enormous responsibility and you have an enormous opportunity.”

A crowd of 725 supporters squeezed into the school’s field house, with at least a hundred stationed on rows of bleachers behind Ryan with a sign above reading, “We can’t afford four more years.”

Ryan told those in attendance that they are faced with two possible outcomes for the future of the United States, and the choice is clear.

“It’s not too late to get this right, it is not too late to turn this economy around,” he said.

Ryan ran through several issues the country is facing, from healthcare to national defense, and how GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and Barack Obama differ.

He explained that the Republican ticket believes in a strong national defense.

“We believe in peace through strength,” he said.

Ryan slammed Obama for 43 months of unemployment above 8 percent, attacking the president’s 2008 rhetoric of “hope and change” for the U.S.

“They said that unemployment would never reach 8 percent,” Ryan said. “When you look at the status of where we are right now, we have 23 million men and women in the country struggling for work.

He explained that Romney would take responsibility over the next four years, and not blame others.

Ryan also told those in attendance that it’s not too late for the country to turn the economy around.

“In this country, every generation of Americans fixes their problems so that we can leave the next generation better off,” Ryan said.

“We need to tackle our nation’s challenges before they tackle us,” he added.

Ryan is the first of two Wisconsin-based politicians at Pinkerton Academy today. Gov. Scott Walker will give the keynote address at the N.H. GOP convention at 1 p.m.

Speaking before Ryan were U.S. Reps Charles Bass, NH-2 and Frank Guinta, NH-1 and state Sen. Jim Rausch, who represents Derry.