Michael Clapp
Vice presidential hopeful Paul Ryan was in Portland Monday to raise money for the Romney-Ryan ticket. He wasn't available to the media. But dozens of protesters came out to try to catch a glimpse, and share their views of the high-profile Republican.
At least 100 people rallied outside the Governor Hotel in downtown Portland. Many of them had abortion rights on their minds, and were critical of Paul Ryan's record.
Laura Terrill Patton directs Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon.
"We are out here to let Paul Ryan know that we are watching, and we'll be voting in November," she said.
There weren't as many Ryan supporters in the crowd, but there were some like Sharon Bishop with a group called the Republican Women of Downtown Portland.
Bishop says she's pro-choice. But she supports Ryan and Romney because she thinks there are issues that trump abortion rights in this year's election.
"But right now, I think jobs and the economy, and I think that we haven't seen any solutions that have made any difference with Obama, so they¹re getting my vote," Bishop said.
Laura Terrill Patton says jobs and abortion are related. "Women's healthcare issues and access to women's healthcare are economic issues. When women are able to access healthcare and receive medical attention, they are better able to
contribute to society."
The two sides rallied side-by-side, and occasionally actually spoke to people on the opposite side.
Republican Sharon Bishop debated capital gains taxes with a younger protester at one point. Exchanges only got heated once.
Michael Clapp
Albert Angelo III
Demonstrators on both sides were mostly gone by the time donors, like Albert Angelo III, emerged from the hotel.
Angelo says he liked Ryan’s “small government” message.
“Government should be an aide, not something that takes care of its people. It should be there to protect and serve, but not to put a handout if you will. He definitely mentioned many times, about getting back on track, those conservative values, and working across the aisle. That was huge to me,” Angelo says.
Some demonstrators were critical of the kinds of economic policies that donors like Angelo support.
