Ryan draws bigger response than Romney at primary event

U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., left, and Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, wave to the audience as Romney takes the stage during a campaign stop on the campus of Lawrence University, in Appleton, Wis., Friday, March 30, 2012.

/ AP Photo/Steven Senne

(CBS News) PEWAUKEE, Wis. - Never mind that there were three GOP presidential candidates headlining the Faith and Freedom Coalition's Presidential Kickoff event here on Saturday. The crowd's hardiest applause went to Republican Rep. Paul Ryan, who's not gunning for a spot on the Republican ballot in November - at least not yet.

Sandwiched into a five-minute speaking slot between former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and onetime Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the Wisconsin Congressman and House Budget Committee Chairman brought the audience to its feet at the Country Springs Hotel, eliciting cheers far more enthusiastic than those offered up for Gingrich, Romney, or former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who spoke later in the morning.

Ryan, who Thursday night announced his endorsement of Romney, expressed concerns about the Republican race, saying, "If we keep dragging this thing on... it becomes counterproductive" to the party. Since the endorsement, Romney has hinted that Ryan may be included on his eventual vice presidential short list.

Each of the candidates Saturday mentioned Ryan by name at least once, with the notable exception of Santorum, who dismissed him as "some other Wisconsinite" in a passing reference to Ryan's much-trumpeted GOP budget blueprint.

Earlier in the week, prior to the endorsement, Santorum devoted nearly an entire event to singing Ryan's praises during a visit to Ryan's hometown of Janesville.

[slatep]

One more good reason not to vote for Romney.!!

Ryan is even more evil than John the Blackmailer Boehner.!!

[infantryman1968]

by calif7 March 31, 2012 8:27 PM EDT

Given the state of the GOP, it's not surprising that the author (Ryan) of what Newt Gingrich calls far right GOP social re-engineering should get a loud applause from a far right radical Christian audience

LOL!

So you believe that America is a Center Left Secular Nation and the GOP is trying to re-social-engineer us to Center Right?

Really?

The only place thats going on is the Peoples Republic of California!

[stupidrules3]

This is a center right country that Ryan wants to make into a far right country. And Gingrich showed his lack of cojones when he retracted his statements about the Ryan plan. He was right the first time but gave up all his credibility after changing his tune on that one. Just my opinion and probably worth only as much as anyone else's.......not much (as I am sure you will point out).

[calif7]

Given the state of the GOP, it's not surprising that the author (Ryan) of what Newt Gingrich calls far right GOP social re-engineering should get a loud applause from a far right radical Christian audience.

[occupy_cbs]

True dat!

[involved_indi]

He probably got a decent round of applause because he's actually put some effort into creating a budget that doesn't add another trillion dollars to the national deficit every 11 months unlike ANY of the democrats. The only social re-engeering thats been attempted is Obama's wealth redistribution and class warfare and its just leading to a failed U.S. government.

[news4all]

Ryan told everyone why he was voting for Romney--- That's why the crowd responded with such loud applause!

[RobAla]

Of course he had the bigger applause, Paul Ryan is a son of Wisconsin.

[rightbehind]

Wisconsin will more than likely push the lever on that one and flush it.

[jimatmadison]

When Mitt was governor, Massechusetts ranked 47th in job creation.

He likes Wisconsin because, since Tea Party governor Scott Walker and his GOP buddies' budget went through, Wisconsin ranks LAST in job creation.

Mitt figures if he hangs around Wisconsin Republicans, he'll look less pathetic by comparison.

[jimatmadison]

Please, please, please put LET'S KILL MEDICARE Paul Ryan on the ticket with silver spoon, job-killing vulture capitalist, outrageous flip-flopper RomneyObamaCare Mitt.

[moretruthnow]

Right you are. Paul Ryan has come out with the same right wing anti-American budget that ends Medicare, cuts benefits in every way, shape and form while giving huge tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires. The GOP agenda is against the middle class and the elderly, but for all corporate subsidies and the wealthiest who will always be rewarded. The GOP is also against women, black people, our environment, our public schools, our state workers and our police officers and fire fighters. They are only for privitization that will enrich themselves.

[involved_indi]

to moretruthnow...
Got news for you. Obama ended Medicare and replaced it with Obamacare. It just doesn't die until 2014. The "huge tax cuts" you are talking about affect almost everyone paying taxes to some degree and total in effect 54 billion dollars which runs the government about 5 days. The democrats have the worst record on racism I've ever seen and it's the left that you see all of the hate speech coming from, not the right. Democratic give aways started under Johnson and earlier democratic regimes have actually enslaved much of the black population of this country... teach them how to get a check and you don't have to teach them how to help themselves. If Obama is reelected and democrats continue to lead the country for another 4 years we will be another Greece. Wake up and quit trying to spin the facts.

[BUDDYofPA]

Ryan/Romney/Reagan the three R's in Destroying America !!!!

[nh4ronpaul]

They are all a bunch of RINO failures anyway..

NO ONE gets 5,200 people at a rally EXCEPT RON PAUL who is winning all the delegates at the caucuses...

[jimatmadison]

A caucus isn't an election. Ron Paul has never won an election or primary outside of his nutcasecrazy district in dumbasdirt Texas.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

Santorum, who dismissed him as "some other Wisconsinite"...

Earlier in the week...Santorum devoted nearly an entire event to singing Ryan's praises..

---

How transparent is that, eh?