Colorado’s status as a swing state is becoming clearer and clearer with each passing day.Congressman Paul Ryan, the Republican vice presidential candidate, made his umpteenth trip to Colorado Springs on Sunday, and he’s hitting three more Colorado cities on Monday.On top of that, he and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are appearing together at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver on Tuesday.Sunday evening, Ryan spoke to a crowd of more than 1,000 supporters at the Colorado Jet Center at the city airport, his voice hoarse from campaigning. The  candidate not only riled up the crowd, but put the onus on the audience to get out and make a difference.“Guess what? You’ve got a big choice to make,” were the first words out of Ryan’s mouth. “You have the choice. You have the opportunity. You have the responsibility.”

See a slideshow here of Ryan’s visit to Colorado Springs.At all of his speeches in Colorado Springs over the past few months, Ryan has targeted President Barack Obama’s controversial health care policies, the $16 trillion national debt, and the tanked economy.Sunday, Ryan punctuated his comments with support for the military, saying that leaders must honor the troops.Ryan came back to what he said are the failings of the Obama administration, and the difference between Republicans and Democrats.“We believe the government works for us, not the other way around,” Ryan said to cheers.Ryan said Romney would OK the controversial Keystone Pipeline on his first day in office, create 12 million new jobs, get tough on China’s trade practices, and — one of his signature pledges — cut tax rates by 20 percent.Audience members said they were energized by Ryan’s speech.“I’d never paid attention to him before. Everything I knew about Paul Ryan, I could put in one sentence. Now, I just love him,” said Cynthia Stuart, a 58-year-old Colorado Springs wedding planner.When asked what he liked about the Romney-Ryan platform, account manager Chris Benton, 40, started counting off issues — the economy, lower taxes, international trade, the Keystone Pipeline.“I could keep going,” Benton said emphatically.Diane Frankforter, a 60-year-old retired administrator, said she’s afraid of how her family could suffer if the economy doesn’t rebound, and that Ryan hit all the right topics for her in his Sunday speech.“I’m worried about my granddaughter having a future, getting an education, having a job,” said Frankforter. “Romney and Ryan will turn things around.”Ryan isn’t the only big name the campaign has brought to Colorado Springs in recent days. On Saturday, comedian Jeff Foxworthy was in Colorado Springs to stump for Romney, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry held a meet-and-greet for the campaign at the El Paso County GOP headquarters Sunday afternoon.Colorado Democrats held a press conference of their own Sunday afternoon, and blasted Ryan before he even delivered his speech at the airport. Former Denver Mayor Federico Peña, a national co-chair of Obama’s campaign, charged that Romney hasn’t provided any specifics on his promise to create 12 million new jobs, or how he plans to slash the deficit.“Is it just that he hopes that providing tax cuts to the wealthy and by eliminating regulation on Wall Street, magically new jobs will be created?” Peña asked. “We have heard this story before. This is what (President George W. Bush) did. And what happened? He ran us into a ditch.”State Senate Majority Leader John Morse, D-Colorado Springs, said Romney wanted to cut public firefighters and police officers.Romney, however, told The Gazette earlier on Oct. 1 that it would be “a very significant mistake” to even consider slashing funding to fire departments.When asked about that, Morse replied that Romney has said the country doesn’t need more firefighters, police officers or teachers.“You’ve caught him in a ‘Romnesia’ moment,” Morse said, stealing one of Obama’s newest quips charging Romney with changing positions.—Contact John Schroyer: 476-4825Twitter: @JohnschroyerFacebook: Gazette John Schroyer

Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan speaks to a crowd of thousands Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the Colorado Jet Center. Michael Ciaglo/The Gazette Photo by MICHAEL CIAGLO, THE GAZETTE

MICHAEL CIAGLO