Ryan launches ads for congressional race

(CBS News) OAK CREEK, Wis. - Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is about to run his first political ads of the season, not for the Republican ticket that he shares with Mitt Romney, but for his concurrent reelection bid to the House.

The congressman from Wisconsin's 1st congressional district plans to air ads in the Milwaukee and Madison television markets beginning on Wednesday, the same day he will be in the state campaigning, an aide said. Since he joined the GOP ticket as nominee Mitt Romney's running mate in mid-August, Ryan has chosen to legally remain on the ballot in the congressional race, which is allowed under Wisconsin law. If he and Romney are elected, his seat will be filled in a special election. If they lose the White House race, Ryan could still be elected for an eighth term in the House.

The ads focus "on the critical choice before voters this November and the importance of electing leaders who are capable of advancing solutions that get America back on track," said Kevin Seifert, spokesman for Ryan's congressional bid. Ryan will run other TV, radio and print advertisements between now and the election on Nov. 6.

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Ryan's aides also shared a poll from a Republican polling firm, Public Opinion Strategies, that shows him leading Democratic opponent Rob Zerban by 25 percentage points and maintaining a favorability rating of 61 percent, which the firm says is unchanged since he became Romney's running mate.