Posted on 06/27/2012 11:54:04 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
JANESVILLE, Wis. -- In a recent Washington Post story on Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and his vice presidential aspirations, a passage about another Capitol Hill lawmaker stood out:
"Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell [have] also emerged as fixtures in the vice presidential discussion, with Ryan especially portrayed as a kindred spirit of [Mitt] Romney’s, someone able to finish the top man’s sentences and make him laugh. Romney and Ryan had met privately last autumn to talk about economic policy and deficits, said someone close to the candidate."
Maneuvering by Romney’s presidential campaign suggest that Portman and Tim Pawlenty are at the top of the list to be this year’s Republican running mate. Ryan, despite his good chemistry with the presumptive nominee, has not gotten the same kind of buzz -- even though the campaign has deployed him just as much and likely sees him in a similar vein to how it views the other two.
Elected to the House in 1998 as a 28-year-old and now serving his seventh term, Ryan was the first surrogate dispatched to North Carolina to host a solo event on behalf of the presidential operation. He’s also joined Romney on the stump several times since endorsing him ahead of the Wisconsin primary in April, and he’s one of the high-profile fundraising figures for the campaign. Although aides don’t acknowledge that he’s being vetted for vice president, Capitol Hill has been swirling with speculation that he is.
And yet, even though Ryan has become a rock star to the right, his experience is limited to work in Congress, which suggests to some that he might seem like a one-trick pony and thus unfit to fill the role of president.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
It would be helpful to have Ryan in charge of the true purse strings.
It would be REALLY helpful to have a true conservative as Speaker, ASAP.
Right on target - the VP position, while good for future political positioning to some degree, is largely powerless. When compared to the Ways and Means Chair, VP gets the toy car while the Chair gets the keys to the sports car.
“It would be helpful to have Ryan in charge of the true purse strings.”
I agree. McDonnell is probably the best choice for VP. I like Portman but his ties to the Bush administration would make him a huge liability.
Speaking of Wisconsin, how about Senator Ron Johnson as republican VP candidate?
Wisconsini Ryan for WAys and Means ping
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
I wouldn't work hard to defeat Romney if he chooses Ryan for VP, but I would if he chooses Rubio.
Finish your thought, that you would work hard to elect obama.
28-(2x7)=14 Wow how do you get elected to Congress when you are 14?
Finish your thought, that you would work hard to elect obama, right along with the RNC, GOPe.
What?
Better to be the powerful Ways & Means Committee Chairman than powerless VP covered with romney-stink.
Re-read the passage.
The veep should not be an up-and-comer. It should be someone WITHOUT a job or soon to be. John Kyl comes to mind. We don’t need Senators elevated just so we can reelect the replacement 2 years later. Governors? Should be someone out of office(Pawlenty?). We will need ALL the sitting GOP Governors to carry out Mittens ‘back to the states’ programs.
That’s fine with me.
That will bring excitement to the ticket!!!! (sarc)
It would be better for Romney to choose someone who is obviously a Natural Born Citizen for VP than to pick Rubio and pick a fight with those of us who do not believe Rubio or obama are Constitutionally eligible to be POTUS.
You may not agree or you may not care, but there are many who feel as I do, many who feel even more strongly.
If that's the fight Romney wants to have while getting his campaign started, he'll surely find it.
Twenty eight year old serving his 7th term, not possible, just pointing that out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.