BUFFALO, N.Y. -- One of the busiest men in Washington these days, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer got free long enough Wednesday to make several stops across Upstate New York. His visit to Buffalo was the first this year and first since assuming the role as Democratic party figurehead.

"I think the politicians who stay in Washington are not as good as the politicians who are around their states and their districts," said Schumer, D-New York.

Republican have cast Schumer as an obstructionist, accusing him of slowing the pace of confirmations for President Donald Trump's cabinet appointments. He said that's not necessarily his goal.

"I'm not going to oppose things that he's for, just because his name is on it but at the same time when he goes against our values, I will fight him as hard as I can," he said.

He's been disappointed so far in Trump's cabinet picks, which he said have landed further right on the political spectrum than the populist message he campaigned on would've led people to expect. Schumer said he understands people's concerns with those picks as well as the president's policies on issues like immigration. At the same time, he did not endorse the recent trend of confrontational protests at congressional town halls.

"There's nothing wrong and something good about people who are upset protesting but it shouldn't, of course, denigrate to violence," Schumer said. "That's against the law but it ought to be civil. There ought to be a discussion of views. I don't believe it's right to shout people down."

The senator said he is listening to people's concerns while acknowledging some constituents' frustrations at not being able to connect with his office.

"We're getting a huge number of calls, mainly supportive, but when you get 20,000 calls a day, the trouble is the phone lines get filled up. We don't have 20,000 phones ringing," he said.

Schumer said the call volume is unprecedented, making upstate trips like Wednesday's even more important. He reaffirmed his commitment to visit all 62 counties in the state again this year.

"I love doing it," he said. "I've done it for 18 years. I'm going to do it for the 19th."