ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is defending his running mate's Medicare proposal, telling Florida voters that he and Paul Ryan both want to "preserve and protect Medicare."

Romney said Democratic President Barack Obama's decision to take $700 billion from Medicare for his health care law was "not the right answer."

The likely GOP presidential nominee campaigned Monday in St. Augustine. Hundreds of people were not admitted to the event after security screeners couldn't clear them in fast enough.

Other than defending Ryan, Romney barely addressed Medicare while visiting a state with a large population of senior citizens who rely on the program.

Romney was on his first solo campaign swing since introducing Ryan as his running mate over the weekend.