The Republican congressman promised supporters in Colorado Springs Sunday night to avoid budget cuts to the armed forces that are scheduled to kick in at the end of the year. Ryan voted for those cuts last year but now complains that President Obama won't let Republicans substitute other spending cuts for the defense ones.

Ryan said he and Mitt Romney want what he called "peace through strength." He said that the cuts are emboldening the country's adversaries.

Ryan will make three more Colorado appearances Monday. He meets running mate Mitt Romney for a rally Tuesday. President Obama is scheduled to appear in Denver on Wednesday, a reminder of Colorado's big role in the deadlocked presidential race.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)