FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla.-- When Paul Ryan took the stage in Fernadina Beach Monday, he was met with flags and cheers.
More than 2,300 people came out to say "thank you" in their own way.
"We really appreciate that he would visit not just cities, but small towns and places like that," supporter Vicki Strickland said.
Nassau County isn't the Romney/Ryan campaign's first swing by a non-metropolitan area. Ryan was in Ocala last week and on his way to Melbourne and Lakeland today -- had those trips not been canceled because of Hurricane Sandy.
Campaign reps say thinking of the little guy is not a coincidence.
"We look at what work in our scheduling plans of where it makes sense for them to be," Communications Manager Jill Bader said.
The presidential and vice-presidential nominees say their goal is to reach the hard-working people of America, like Ryan Deems.
"We were kind of surprised they were coming to Fernandina Beach and not Jacksonville, but it shows they're in touch with the people who vote. The real people," he said.
With about a week left until the general election, Ryan promised the crowd he'd finish strong and deliver results. To get there, reps say they need the voter support of people in Fernandina and other places like it across the country.
"Middle-income people. People in small towns, big towns," Bader said.
