WDBJ7 Web Staff/Orlando Salinas WDBJ7

2:18 p.m. EDT, August 22, 2012
ROANOKE, Va.—

Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan spoke at a Roanoke County event Wednesday morning for about 22 minutes.

Ryan said that if he and presidential candidate Mitt Romney win November's, they will repeal "Obamacare."

He also referenced President Obama's speech in downtown Roanoke last month. The campaign has seized on a comment Obama made about small businesses, and how they needed help getting started.

Ryan said this type of mindset: "Tells us that he believes in a government-centered society with a government-centered economy. That's what Europe has. Look what it's doing to Europe.

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"Our rights as individuals come from nature and God, not from government," Ryan said.

The Wisconsin congressman also touched on Medicare, saying "this is a debate we want. This is a debate we will win."

This is Ryan's second trip to Virginia in recent week. Romney named Ryan as his running mate on August 11 in Norfolk. An estimated crowd of 1,340 people were on hand for Wednesday's event, which was held at Northwest Hardware in Roanoke County.

Ryan's speech also touched on cleaning up the tax code and getting government spending under control.

"We will not kick the can down the road, we will lead," Ryan said. "Our job is to grow the pie so everyone can get a bigger slice of the pie."

Chris McMurray, better known as "Chris the Baker," introduced Ryan. McMurray gained instant fame recently after turning down a photo-op with Joe Biden in Radford.

"We are gathered here today to send message to the Obama Biden team that we did build it," McMurray told the crowd.

Morgan Griffith, who represents Virginia's 9th District, delivered opening remarks.

"Paul Ryan knows how to fix our budget without breaking the country," Ryan said.

WDBJ7 will air a one-on-one interview Thursday with Congressman Ryan.

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Paul Ryan took the stage in Roanoke County at 9:12 a.m.

"Chris the Baker," a Radford baker who gained instant fame by turning down a photo-op with Joe Biden, introduced Ryan.

Ryan called Mitt Romney a "bold and principled leader."

He also said if "We win, we repeal Obamacare."

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