The presidential campaign season is heating up, with two high-profile Republicans stopping by the Bay area.

Ann Romney, the wife of GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, visited Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa on Wednesday.

She sat down with 13 women who are part of a breast cancer support group.  Romney, 63, is a breast cancer survivor.

"To see these women coming together to help each other is wonderful," she said. "When you first get the diagnosis, it is shocking, then you're terribly worried."

During her visit to Moffitt, Mrs. Romney also sat down for an interview and discussed a range of campaign topics.  

She said her husband was the clear winner in the debate with President Barack Obama.  Mrs. Romney says the Obama campaign showed poor sportsmanship by releasing ads claiming Romney lied during the debates.

"First of all, he did not lie," Romney said. "He's a very decent man.  A good man. To lose a debate and then say Mitt was lying is just not good sportsmanship."

Ann Romney says her husband views cutting the nation's deficit as a moral issue.

"We've got to make some tough choices," she said. "We can not leave our children under this debt that will overwhelm their lives."

While touring Moffitt, Ann Romney, who also battles multiple sclerosis, told the group of cancer survivors that cancer and multiple sclerosis awareness and research would be her signature issues if she becomes the next first lady. 

Rep. Ryan in Bay area preparing for debate

A day away from the vice presidential debate, Republican vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan is in the Bay area preparing to face off against Vice President Joe Biden.

He stopped at Old Farmer's Creamery Ice Cream on 4th Street in St. Petersburg Wednesday afternoon on his way to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport.

Rep. Ryan has been at the Renaissance Vinoy, in downtown St. Petersburg, preparing for Thursday's debate against current Vice President Joe Biden. The two are set to square off in Danville, Ky., starting at 9 p.m. EDT.

Ryan is not expected to make any campaign remarks while in the area.

As for Biden, White House officials said he has been gearing up for the debate in his native Wilmington, Delaware. That includes everything from watching recent Ryan speeches and interviews, reading the book Ryan co-wrote, and participating in several mock debates.

Ann Romney's tour of Moffitt is in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She was not expected to make a campaign speech.

President Barack Obama is scheduled to return to Florida on Thursday for a rally at the University of Miami.