MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Paul Ryan says the United States lost "a great American" in astronaut Neil Armstrong.

Ryan told donors Saturday that Armstrong "proved that we can imagine big things, who showed that in America, you can set very lofty goals and accomplish them." Ryan says the first man to walk on the moon represented the best the country offered. He says Armstrong "is the epitome of American vision, American power, American creativity."

Ryan campaigned with running mate Mitt Romney earlier in the day in Ohio before heading to New Hampshire to campaign, stopping by an ice cream store to speak to about 75 donors to the presumptive Republican ticket.

Armstrong died Saturday from complications following cardiovascular procedures. He was 82 years old.