Vice President Joe Biden said Wednesday that Republican Mitt Romney's choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate proves that the GOP ticket stands for the economic ideas championed by House Republicans - ideas Biden and President Barack Obama have long opposed.

Campaigning at Virginia Tech in southwestern Virginia, Biden said that for Romney, "the Etch A Sketch is gone." That was a reference to a Romney aide who suggested during the Republican primary fight that Romney could reset his strategy for the general election much like one would start a new picture on an Etch A Sketch toy.

Democrats have been running against Republican economic ideas, and Biden said Democrats are confident they can win despite persistently high unemployment and a sluggish economy.

While on campus, Biden also visited a memorial to victims of the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007. Biden walked solemnly around the outdoor memorial where stones were placed in remembrance of the 32 victims. A plaque says "We will prevail. We are Virginia Tech."