Romney-Ryan campaign in Daytona Beach

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Under the open sky, they came by the thousands. Some young and some like Jean Venn.

"Because I'm 89 years old and I know the score," said Venn.

Nothing, not even Biketoberfest, was going to keep her home on the night when Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan were making an appearance in her hometown of Daytona Beach.

"Hey Florida, you ready to make this man the next President of the United States," Ryan asked the crowd.

Ten thousand people were expected to attend the rally at the Daytona Beach Bandshell Friday night. Country music star John Rich was the opening act, winning the crowd over with Johnny Cash songs as well as some from his own band Big and Rich.

But it was Romney himself that generated the biggest applause with statements like, "We have big ideas, and a strong agenda. We are going to get to Washington and get this country on track."

Romney will join President Barack Obama Monday night in Boca Raton for the final presidential debate.