9:06 AM: Vice President Paul Ryan?
Congressman Paul Ryan's name is circulating as a possible second-tier veep choice for presumptive GOP prez nominee John McCain.
Ryan, 38, of Janesville, first elected in 1998, is often lauded as a rising young conservative with a big future in D.C.
But while he's sometimes been seen as a possible future speaker, prez running mate is quite another thing.
Conservative columnist Robert Novak, on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, uttered Ryan's name to a national audience.
MR. NOVAK: One would be former Congressman, former special trade, U.S. trade representative, former budget director Rob Portman. I think he would be an excellent...
MR. RUSSERT: From Ohio.
MR. NOVAK: From Ohio. Another one would be a younger congressman, ranking Republican on the Budget Committee and a tax cutter, Paul Ryan. Somebody like that who would, who would be younger than McCain, which isn't hard to find, and, and somebody who would be much more regular on taxes than McCain has been.
See the full transcript, page 6, here.
Why Ryan? In addition to his age and tax-cutting reputation, Ryan is from a traditionally swing district in a Midwestern swing state, is an avid hunter and joins McCain in bashing congressional pork.
Why not Ryan? He's from the Congress, just like McCain.
That's why most attention has focused on Republicans with guv experience from key regions: Haley Barbour of Mississippi, Charlie Crist of Florida, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota.
WTMJ-AM conservative talk show host Charlie Sykes brought it up to Ryan on Friday. Said Ryan: "Flattering ... But I really don't think about it."
-- By Staff
Labels: 2008 spring primary