Update: Paul Ryan: Obama Worse Than Jimmy Carter

criticized the president's jobs record and avoided the recent controversy set off by his remarks at the Republican National Convention last week, before a sold out crowd at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday,

During his nearly 30 minute speech at the same venue - Johnson Hall - where President  spoke in July, Ryan railed against Obama and the "failure" of his administration.

"Jimmy Carter was fired in 1980 and Ronald Reagan was fired," he said. "And if you look at his jobs record, Obama was even worse than Jimmy Carter."

He said that GOP nominee and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's business experience well qualifies him to restore the economy. Romney embraces a strategy to create jobs and slow down government spending, he said.

"I just heard about an hour ago that our government eclipsed the $16 trillion mark in our national debt," he said. "Out of all the broken promises of Obama, this is probably the worst one."

The event drew more people than expected. Officials had to turn people away saying the venue had reached capacity.

As people waited in line the event was completely closed off shortly after 3:30 p.m. by the Cedar Rapids Fire Department, according to a Romney campaign volunteer. Ryan began speaking around 4:10 p.m.

A crowd of about 30 people gathered outside of Johnson Hall to listen to the speech from a loudspeaker.

Many in line waiting left immediately, including one man who said he had driven 300 miles to see Ryan speak. When he learned that he was not allowed in he threw his printed ticket on the ground and left.

While some left upset, other say they were inspired by the speech, regardless if they were able to watch the speech in person.

Cedar Rapids resident Paul Morisette had to stand outside the event for nearly an hour, but he said his passion for the Romney/Ryan ticket has not wavered.

"This doesn't change anything," he said. "I am a little disappointed but not discouraged."

Ryan's speech was billed as a "victory rally," addressing the question: "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican, asked that very question to the crowd before introducing Ryan. The crowd responded with an audible, "no."

"Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will create 12 million new jobs in this country in four years," Branstad said.

Ryan’s visit has been anticipated since his speech during Wednesday's Republican National Convention became a hot topic after fact checkers pointed out a number of inaccuracies.

The Washington Post cited Ryan as saying:

"Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said: 'I believe that if our government is there to support you … this plant will be here for another hundred years,’" he said, according to the Post, adding, "Well, as it turned out, that plant didn’t last another year."

Ryan distanced himself from that comment on Tuesday, when he said he really was blaming Obama for not re-opening the plant, rather than being responsible for its closing.

Ryan will also be speaking at the Dallas County Courthose in Adel at 9 a.m. Wednesday.