Paul Ryan: Pressure is on for VP debate
(CNN) - Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan said Monday that Mitt Romney's widely-applauded debate performance upped the ante for Ryan's own showdown this week.
"He raised the bar quite high, that's for sure. Mitt definitely put the pressure on from that perspective," Ryan said on Detroit radio station WJR, just days before his match-up against Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday.
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A new Gallup poll released Monday indicates Romney experienced a post-debate bounce after last week's event in Denver, and other surveys, including a CNN/ORC International poll, showed debate watchers considered Romney the clear winner.
On Sunday, a number of campaign advisers and surrogates conceded President Barack Obama did not meet expectations and signaled the campaign may make "adjustments," using Biden on Thursday as the first attempt to come back.
But multiple Democratic sources told CNN the campaign does not expect Biden to make up for the president's showing in the first presidential debate.
READ MORE: Biden in Delaware for debate prep
The two vice presidential running mates will face off in their first and only debate at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky.
Ryan, repeating a line he used this weekend in a separate interview, said he expects the vice president to launch at him "like a cannon ball."
"Because they had such a bad debate, Joe Biden is just going to come flying at us," Ryan said. "It seems pretty clear that their new strategy is just basically to call us liars, to descend down into a mud pit, and hopefully with enough mudslinging back and forth–and distortion–people get demoralized and they can win by default."
The Wisconsin congressman was referring to the Obama campaign's post-debate argument, which used television ads, stump speeches and interview shows to make the case that Romney was dishonest during the first debate, namely on Romney's tax plan. Obama campaign senior adviser David Axelrod on Sunday phrased Romney's performance as unchecked "brazenness."
"That's something we're going to have to make an adjustment for in these subsequent debates," Axelrod added on CBS.
Playing the expectations game, Ryan continued to raise the bar for Biden, reminding listeners that the former 36-year senator has decades of experience.
"He's been on this national stage more than anyone else in politics," Ryan said, further describing Biden as "gifted," "extremely experienced" and a "proven debater."
But he said Biden has one big problem to overcome.
"He has to defend Barack Obama's record and it's not a very good record to defend," Ryan said.
The Ryan choice is EXCELLENT
Ryan has the courage to challenge Big socialist government programs like Social Security and Medicare.
Politicians have been deathly afraid to challenge senior citizens on Social Security and Medicare because they are such a powerful voting block
But Senior Citizens have been feeding at the government trough for too long.
It's time Seniors learned that nothing is "Free" and that WELFARE FOR THE ELDERLY is no different from welfare for the poor.
American seniors are just going to have to learn to save their money and rely on themselves in their old age.
NO MORE GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS TO SENIORS
It's time to end the two biggest socialist programs in the federal government....MEDICARE and SOCIAL SECURITY.
And the Romney/Ryan team is the ones to do it.
You are going to pay your way now old people, no more free lunch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL
Gee, Lyin Ryan is upset that they are calling them liars? Then stop it. That was easy. Now about those 3 hour marathons or the fact that you never took govt. assistance? What?
Gee, this is easy. If Lyin Ryan wants them to stop calling them liars then just stop it. That's easy enough. So how's those 3 hour marathons going and the fact you said you never applied for govt. assistance. Oh, and Mitt said in the debate the dems were the "trickle down " guys????And you guys WILL cover pre -existing conditions and that Mitt's budget does not add 5 trillion in red ink , where every study says it does. Yeah, the "Lyin" thing will probably follow you around for awhile.
Lying idiot needs to stay home. Folks, remove all the congress thugs. Obama12.
beau, Social Security is NOT a "handout." People pay into all their working lives, like they pay for insurance. What they receive is the output from the premiums they paid in. Your ignorance in striking. It's folks like you who undermine electoral democracy in the USA.
Another spin job by CNN (who can forget the classic "economists 'reluctantly' pick Romney"), but it couldn't be more false. Ryan has the knowledge and demeanor to handle the debate very easily. As for gaffe-boy.....
Can't Lyin Eddie Munster find a suit that fits him? Jeeeesus.
This is better thn Monday night football. Watching old 'UncleJoe' blow smoke up Americas tail.
VP Biden should call ol' Munster out on his arrogance and contempt in saying that explaining the "math" behind his budget plan would "take too long."
If Lyin' Ryan can't spare a couple minutes to explain how his budget will cut taxes, increase military spending and balance the budget – you know, put together a PowerPoint presentation, since he's a "PowerPoint kind of guy" – then
he doesn't deserve anyone's vote.
Obama/Biden 2012 = The only sane choice
@beau: "The Ryan choice is EXCELLENT
Ryan has the courage to challenge Big socialist government programs like Social Security and Medicare."
I'm assuming you've requested Lyin' Ryan to refund all the Social Security money he received after his father died, right? Because that's SOCIALISM, Bub!
Beau, you are an idiot. Social Security and Medicare are not welfare. You pay for them over your working life. But fine; if you wish to turn them down when you turn 65 or 66, please do so. Then there will be more money for deserving people who have some brains. Good luck living a decent existence when you are 70 or 75 or 80, with no job, your savings used up, and no Social Security or Medicare to help you out.
Biden the Buffoon is history.
Ryan will make toast out of Biden, just like Romney did to Obama. A fool is a fool.
So this duo, lying is considered "raising the bar"? And there are fools out there willing to vote for these trolls?
Ryan is intelligent, articulate, focused, and sharp. He brings a lot to the table for his young years. This is going to be good !
Based on Romney's flip-flopping debate shift, I suppose we will hear that Ryan – who voted to kill the Simpson Bowles plan – now, supports the SImpson Bowles plan, we'll hear that Ryan, who vowed to eradicate Medicare as we know it and replace it with a voucher system - now supports Medicare. The fact is, Ryan, like Romney, is a slick salesman. But ask him for specifics and, like Romney, he'll just change the subject.
@beau: Just re-read your post ... missed the sarcasm the first time 'round ... 🙂
It is The Economy, Mr. President. Your Economy, Mr. President. You built that.
I do not understand why CNN continuously slams Mitt Romney. This goes on day after day, hour after hour and minute after minute. I think it is time to lighten up.
Just ask Grandpa Joe why he had to quit the 88 race.
Beau-
Really?? Are you listening to yourself? What kind of country would America be for Seniors without Social Security and Medicare?
You reaffirm the reputation that the GOP is a heartless, soul-less party for the rich only.
No body vote for him befor so don't worry
Marie Manning- It's just the nature of the beast, their candidate (Obama) has a terrible and pitiful record to run on so they must help demean and destroy his opponent.
I am wondering why folks are taking debates more valuable than the way the candidates have carried their campaigns. Does this mean the government has now, to be administered by carrying out debates all way through? It is ridiculous.
We know who has been lying continously and it is NOT Romney and Ryan.