Romney-Ryan Team Hits The Campaign Trail

GOP presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney will make campaign appearances Monday in Florida, the senior-rich state where Medicare is a key voter concern, and where some predict Paul Ryan's budget proposals could have a negative impact. Meanwhile, the newly anointed Romney vice presidential pick will be in Iowa.

Los Angeles Times: Romney-Ryan Ticket Gets Hero's Welcome In Wisconsin
The reaction since the Saturday announcement underscored that Romney and his campaign are navigating a familiar path for candidates whose running mates are popular with the party base: trying to harness the enthusiasm without being utterly usurped by the newcomer. In Romney's case, there was an added desire to create some distance from some of the more controversial positions held by Ryan, who gained notice for a budget plan that pushed Medicare toward privatization for younger Americans (Mehta, 8/13).

The Washington Post: In Key Swing State Florida, Paul Ryan A Virtual Unknown
And so, TV and radio advertising in Florida for the next three months is likely to be relentless: President Obama's campaign will cast Ryan's proposal as the death knell of Medicare, and Romney will cast it as the program's only salvation. For Romney, the process launched Sunday, when he and Ryan, whose mother is on Medicare in Florida, appeared on CBS's "60 Minutes" and introduced Ryan's proposal as one that will save Medicare for future generations (McCrummen, 8/12).

The Wall Street Journal: Some Seniors Worry Over Ryan Selection
The news that Mitt Romney picked Rep. Paul Ryan, who has suggested changing Medicare, as his running mate sparked worries over the weekend among some residents at the Stella Maris retirement community in Miami Beach—concerns that could reverberate among seniors nationwide. Mr. Ryan has proposed overhauling Medicare and Social Security—including introducing private accounts for Social Security and giving future retirees the option to choose a privately run health insurance plan (Campo-Flores, 8/12).

The Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire: In Senior-Rich Florida, Ryan Will Discuss Medicare
Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.), Mitt Romney's newly announced running mate, will head to central Florida next weekend and likely confront questions about his proposal to overhaul Medicare for future seniors (Paletta, 8/12).

Reuters: Ryan Pick Could Hurt Romney In Crucial Fight For Florida
In Florida last month, President Barack Obama worked up the crowd as he assailed a Republican plan to slash the federal budget deficit while also cutting taxes for millionaires by "squeezing more money out of our seniors." He was referring to a plan proposed by congressman Paul Ryan to get elderly Americans to pay more out of pocket for their healthcare by changing the government-run Medicare program for seniors (Brown, 8/12).

Miami Herald: Ryan Could Be A Drag On Romney In Florida
Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, is the architect of the Ryan budget plan that makes big changes to Medicare and Medicaid and could allow for some privatization of Social Security. And that's widely seen as a politically risky stance in Florida, a must-win state for Republicans (Caputo, 8/11).

CNN: Democrats Hit Ryan Medicare Proposals As Romney Heads To Florida
Democrats followed through on a pledge Monday to peg presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney to the budget plan advanced by his running mate Paul Ryan, releasing web video calling the House Budget chairman's proposals to change Medicare an assault on the middle class. President Barack Obama's campaign released a spot focusing on Florida residents, who say in the video that Ryan's proposed voucher system for Medicare would amount to ending the health care system designed for senior citizens (Liptak, 8/13).

NBC (Video): Campaign Battle Focuses On Ryan's Medicare Redesign
The day after Mitt Romney's selection of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his running mate, it was clear in the debate on Sunday talk shows that Ryan's plan to redesign Medicare for future retirees will be a primary focus of the campaign. ... According to analyses by the Congressional Budget Office and the chief Medicare actuary, Obama’s health care overhaul will reduce future Medicare spending by between $400 billion and $600 billion in its first ten years. The Medicare provisions in the Affordable Care Act are designed to squeeze savings out of Medicare by pressing hospitals, hospices and other providers to become more efficient and by reducing spending on Medicare Advantage plans (Curry, 8/12).

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Obama Targets Ryan Medicare Plan In New Video
President Barack Obama's campaign is already targeting Paul Ryan in a new online video, just two days after the Wisconsin congressman became Mitt Romney's vice presidential pick (8/13).

Also in the news, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has found himself caught in the fray because of his past policy partnerships with Ryan.

The Washington Post: Liberal Wyden's Partnership With Ryan Becomes A GOP Talking Point
In his proud pursuit of creative, if politically implausible, policy initiatives, Wyden has in the past teamed up with the likes of Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the newly anointed Republican vice presidential candidate. Their collaboration on a Medicare reform proposal helped cement Wyden's reputation as a "King of Policy Wonks," as he is sometimes dismissively referred to within his caucus. And it also has given Republicans some cover on the campaign trail (Horowitz, 8/12).

Roll Call: Ron Wyden Takes Issue With Mitt Romney Linking Him To Paul Ryan
At a Saturday campaign stop with his new vice presidential pick, Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.), Romney praised the House Budget chairman's work with Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.) to develop a Medicare overhaul plan. "This man said, 'I'm going to find Democrats to work with.' He found a Democrat to co-lead a piece of legislation that makes sure we can save Medicare," Romney said in Ashland, Va. (Lesniewski, 8/12).