Paul Ryan In Danville: He Came, He Dined, He Dashed

(Patch editor David Mills blogged from Danville this morning, where Congressman Paul Ryan, the Republican vice presidential nominee, held a breakfast fundraiser at the home of former San Francisco 49er Brent Jones. It was a live blog, so the earliest entries are at the bottom. Here, we catch the nominee at the end of his East Bay stay, leaving Danville for an event on the Peninsula.)

9:45 a.m.: A quick get-away for Congressman Ryan. The Republican vice presidential nominee walked out of the home with Jones. He then climbed into his black SUV-like vehicle and the convoy led by the CHP drove off.

Ryan was in the house for about an hour. He's on his way to Mountain View.

One of the departing guests, Jeffrey Aquino of Concord, said the event was worth the $1,000 he paid.

"He and Mitt Romney are a good team," said Aquino as he walked along the residential street to his car.

He said Ryan didn't talk about anything specific inside. He is hopeful the Republican ticket will be victorous on Nov. 6.

"They have to win. They will win," said Aquino.

9:37 a.m.: Guests are now leaving and the valet employees are running, so the congressman's departure should be soon.

9:30 a.m.: The motorcade vehicles have been turned around in anticipation of departure. No sign yet of anyone leaving the house.

There is a photo session scheduled where guests who paid $10,000 can have a picture taken with Congressman Ryan. That may be going on now.

The journalists across the street are now chatting with each other, making jokes and swapping stories. There is almost zero anticipation the Republican vice presidential nominee will stop and let us ask him questions.

9:15 a.m.: Some cheering just came from inside the home. We're guessing Congressman Ryan just finished some remarks.

The CHP cars are moving into position, so we think the Republican vice presidential nominee may be departing soon. He is scheduled to be at Google's offices in Mountain View at 11 a.m., from what we understand.

8:50 a.m.: Congressman Ryan arrived in a motorcade led by California Highway Patrol cars. He stepped from his sturdy black vehicle and was greeted by Jones. Ryan isn't a tall man and he was dwarfed by the former football player.

The two chatted for a couple minutes before walking inside to greet the Republican supporters who paid a minimum of $1,000 to see the vice presidential nominee.

The media took video and photos from across the street. I have pictures and video that I will load up on this story later this morning.

8:45 a.m.: Secret Service agents starting to move around. The agent on the street below us is talking into this "wrist microphone" while looks down the street and then at us. The congressman may be arriving soon.

8:30 a.m.: No sign yet of Congressman Ryan. Four television station news crews are here. So is KCBS radio reporter Anna Duckworth. My former CBS 5 colleague and I got caught up as we await the Republican vice presidential nominee's arrival.

The laughter from the driveway has dissipated. Everyone is inside the house now.

8:20 a.m.: Congressman Ryan still hasn't arrived. A calm has settled over the neighborhood as everyone waits.

Laughter can be heard from the driveway of Jones home as people wait outside to greet Mitt Romney's running mate.

8 a.m.: This usually quiet neighborhood at the top of El Pintado Road has turned into a hive of activity.

Valet employees are running around the neighborhood, trying to park cars that pull into the circular driveway of the large home with the small vineyard out front.

The media has been told by Danville police to stay on a lot across the street where a new home is being built. We are watching for Congressman Ryan amid the stucco walls of the new house and the concrete rubble around it.

Neighbors are stopping by to ask police what is going on.

Republicans from all over the Bay Area are here.

A supporter from South San Francisco, who didn't want to give his name, said he and his wife drove over because he is "a big supporter" of the Republican vice presidential nominee.

"He's very factual and he's very genuine," said the supporter.

Tickets for the event start at $1,000. The event officially begins at 8:15 a.m. There's no information on how many people are expected to attend.

State Senate candidate Mark Meuser was also standing outside, waiting to go inside.

"Paul Ryan was the absolute best pick Romney could have made," said Meuser.

Since no other Republican officials were available for comment, Patch posed the following questions to Meuser, who is running against incumbent Democrat Mark DeSaulnier.

Patch: Shouldn't President Obama be given some credit for rescuing the economy from going over a waterfall in January 2009, when the country lost almost 800,000 jobs in one month?

Meuser: "I don't think the president didn't anything to pull us away from the waterfall."

Patch: Don't congressional Republicans have to take some of the blame for the slow economy because they blocked a number of job programs?

Meuser: "If we're going to blame Congress, then we need to go back to the last two years of the Bush administration and the first two years of this administration when Nancy Pelosi was in charge."

Patch: The Romney campaign has pulled its advertising dollars from Michigan and Pennsylvania. How can they win if they can't win those two states?

Meuser: "I don't think they ever needed Pennsylvania and Michigan. They're nice bonuses, but they're not necessary."