Ryan unlikely to debate House opponent

Republican vice presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan speaks during a campaign rally September 25, 2012 at Dayton International Airport in Vandalia, Ohio. / Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan told a Wisconsin paper this week that he likely won't debate his Democratic opponent in the race for reelection to his southeast Wisconsin House seat.

"The tradition with other campaigns ... was only to do the vice presidential debate," he told the Journal Times, noting that Vice President Joe Biden did not debate his opponent in the Delaware Senate race, Republican Christine O'Donnell, when he was on the national ticket in 2008.

Ryan told the paper that he is focused on the Oct. 11 vice presidential debates with Biden, but said of the congressional debate, "I'll cross that bridge when I get to it." Ryan is spending the last three days of this week preparing for his faceoff with Biden.

His opponent in the 1st District House race, Democrat Rob Zerban, has been calling for a debate and is trying to gather 50,000 signatures from Ryan's constituents to demand a debate, the Journal Times reported. Ryan has run four television ads in the race so far. Wisconsin law allows him to remain on the ballot for reelection to Congress while also running for vice president on the national GOP ticket with nominee Mitt Romney.

[audemus]

Challenger Rob Zerban's team has raised the 50,000 signatures...but the answer is still "No" from Ryan.

[mountainstates1]

Ryan you define the word "dweeb"!

[mary-miami]

Ryan seems to be over confident about everything. Typical fascist.

[lesserof2evil]

Voters need to send the teabagger republiOCNs a message in November.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Ryan's a weasel who is unworthy of holding public office beyond dog catcher.

[audemus]

Obviously Ryan is taking his re-election to the House for granted...which is always a bit of a dangerous thing, but especially for this candidate.

The negative publicity Ryan has received regarding his truthfulness and his social agenda was unexpected, and what Ryan thought would be a huge lift for his popularity since becoming the Republican Vice-Presidential candidate has actually become somewhat of a liability instead...especially among the undecided.

There are a lot of Republican candidates and incumbents who are going to be VERY surprised and disappointed come November 7th....Ryan will be just one.

[AOCGUY]

Wouldn't it be irony should Ryan lose both in November. Or maybe just fate.

[mountainstates1]

It's unlikely Romney's going to win and Ryan is behind in the polls back in Wisconsin. Keep your fingers crossed!!

[AOCGUY]

Wouldn't it be irony should Ryan lose both in November. Or maybe just fate.