A one on one interview with Paul Ryan - Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather Sports

The theme of Paul Ryan's bus tour through Ohio is," More Jobs, More Take Home Pay," and during a one on one interview Paul Ryan said he is fearful the American dream is slipping away.  

So what would Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan do to re-ignite the economy if they were elected.  Ryan first criticized President Obama's last four years of initiatives.

"People are falling behind in this economy.  We had 23 million people who are struggling to find work.  Unemployment has been above eight percent for 43 months and 15 percent of Americans are living in poverty today.  It's the highest rate in a generation," said Ryan. 

He also spoke of the broad goals he would like to reach, if Romney/Ryan campaign is victorious.

"So the things that we're talking about energy policy, education policy, trade that works for America that doesn't lose our intellectual property to countries like China, making sure that we actually cut speeding to balance the budget so we don't have a debt crisis and champion small business.  Never forget most of the jobs in Ohio, most of the jobs in America come from successful small businesses, from manufacturers."

As far as manufacturing jobs are concerned, he says jobs at Lima's tank plant would be safe under a republican administration.

"We think the president's decision to close the Lima tank plant is something we disagree with.  I voted a number of time to prevent it from happening in the house.  Mitt Romney and I believe in strong national defense that means keeping this tank plant open."

About those controversial comments his running mate made about 47 percent of Americans being dependent on the government, Ryan says those are really the campaign's fears.

"More and more people have little choice than to become dependent on the government because there's no opportunity for them.  The American dream is slipping away from them.  More people are in poverty today than have been in a generation.  That's what we're worried about."

Ryan has also been a vocal opponent of the president's health care reform. And many have compared the plan to one adopted in Massachusetts while Romney was governor. Ryan doesn't agree with those comparisons.

"It's quite different actually.  What Massachusetts did was something they can do at the state level of government.  That's a federalism argument and the states should be able to experiment with solutions that are unique to their state."

Paul Ryan says as a Miami University of Ohio graduate, he is excited to be campaigning in Ohio. 

His next stop is Cincinnati.  He'll then meet up with Mitt Romney in Dayton on Tuesday.  Mitt Romney will speak in Toledo on Wednesday.  Also on Wednesday, President Obama will speak in Bowling Green and Kent. 

The campaign blitz shows just how important Ohio is during this election.