Ryan to campaign and trick-or-treat in Wisconsin
October 25th, 2012
07:27 AM ET
10 years ago

Ryan to campaign and trick-or-treat in Wisconsin

Cleveland, Ohio (CNN) - In a week Paul Ryan will campaign in the battleground state of Wisconsin but the visit was partially designed so the GOP vice presidential nominee can be with his kids on Halloween.

Ryan made it clear he won't miss being with his kids on the dress-up holiday in a radio interview earlier this month.

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The seven-term congressman, wife Janna and three children live on the same block that Ryan grew up on in Janesville.

"I'm taking my kids trick-or-treating, and so, that's a big tradition we have in my neighborhood. We trick-or-treat at the same houses I trick-or-treated in as a kid growing up," Ryan said in a radio interview on the Jerry Bader Show on Oct. 19. "And so, around that time, I'm going to spend a good deal of time in Wisconsin."

The race in Wisconsin is considered a "toss up" on CNN's Electoral Map. The state took on greater importance after Ryan became Mitt Romney's running mate and recent polls show President Barack Obama still has a slight edge in Ryan's home state.

In the same interview that aired on WTAQ in Green Bay he said, "I'm planning a swing through the state and throughout the major cities, as many as I can get."

A Ryan aide confirmed the Halloween-day visit but would not elaborate what stops he will make or how long the visit will be.

Ryan's children are school-aged – Liza is 10, Charlie is 9 and Sam is 7 – so they are not able to spend much time with their dad on the campaign trail. Prior to last weekend Ryan was able to take one day off the trail and spend Sundays at home.

When his immediate family is not traveling with him usually another member of the family is by his side, either one of his two brothers, Tobin or Stan, and mother Betty Ryan Douglas joins him occasionally.

His wife and children have appeared with him on some weekends and around big events, including his speech at the Republican National Convention in late August and the vice presidential debate in Danville, Kentucky earlier this month.

When they joined him on a swing through Ohio the day after the debate on Oct. 12, 7-year-old Sam paid an impromptu visit to reporters in the back of the plane.

Perhaps Michael Steel, his dad's press secretary, had given him a few tips about how to take questions and communicate with the press. What was he going to be for Halloween? "It's a secret," Sam responded and then said he dressed up as Super Mario last year.

Sam engaged in a campaign plane tradition of "orange bowling." He rolled down the aisle an orange with the message, "Happy Halloween. From me and my dad."

Reporters returned the orange with a message intended for the vice presidential hopeful. "Come back for a chat. You can bring Sam."

The clever response was "Have candy?"

A photo of Sam talking to reporters was tweeted from his dad's official campaign Twitter account with the message, "Campaign spokesman in training, my youngest son Sam."

On Halloween Sam will probably want to dress up as something else.

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Filed under: 2012 • Paul Ryan • Wisconsin
soundoff (12 Responses)
  1. 4moreyears

    For a man that is suppose to be all about his catholic faith I can't tell. Dude you are not suppose to be celebrating Halloween. Halloween is the devils holiday. Everything it stands for is sacrilegious. I wonder if he knows that Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ. This guy kills animals but is Pro Life and he celebrates Halloween but is a practicing Catholic. GIVE ME A BREAK

    October 25, 2012 08:06 am at 8:06 am |
  2. Wire Palladin, S. F

    Have you noticed that the NRA is back telling voters that Obama will take away their guns, bayonets and horses? I remember when the NRA stood for gun education and gun safety. When Clinton was elected, the NRA handed out bumper stickers that said, "Charlton Heston is my president."

    October 25, 2012 08:11 am at 8:11 am |
  3. Wire Palladin, S. F

    Hopefully Ayn Ryan will be spending a lot of time in WI by losing both his elections. As for a career change, special interest groups could use Ryan as a lobbyist as he appears to already be on their payroll.

    October 25, 2012 08:13 am at 8:13 am |
  4. annie s

    Perfect holiday for Ryan considering he and Romney are playing a huge trick on the American people.

    October 25, 2012 08:19 am at 8:19 am |
  5. AmandaKay

    We here in Wisconsin know what Paul Ryan is he is he Trick NOT the Treat! I pity his children especially little Liza for having a father who has used them for political purposes. He brought them with him to a Soup Kitchen in Ohio where they stormed there way into the St Vinnies without permission to get a photo op cleaning "Dirty Dishes" reports have said these dishes were both clean and dirty, while the kitchen was entirely empty. This is a TERRIBLE message to send children. Pretend to care but don't actually.

    October 25, 2012 08:20 am at 8:20 am |
  6. roy

    Will he wear a Mitt Romney costume.

    October 25, 2012 08:21 am at 8:21 am |
  7. Republicans Are The American Taliban

    Isn't Trick or Treating the ultimate " redistribution of wealth" that he so fervently opposes?? Shouldn't he keep his kids at home, and help explain that theory to every kid who knocks on the door? GO EARN YOUR OWN CANDY!! They are not willing to take responsibility for their own candy? What a hypoctite.

    October 25, 2012 08:26 am at 8:26 am |
  8. Joe from CT, not Lieberman

    Now, if only the Media would allow him the evening just to be a Dad and enjoy his kids' Trick-or-Treating. Not that I am a fan, but sometimes the media gets out of control with their insistence on access 24/7. What's next? Demanding play-by-play if he needs to use a Port-a-John at a county fair?

    October 25, 2012 09:04 am at 9:04 am |
  9. They ought to change from the elephant to the hippo...

    If you're foolish enough to vote for this guy, you've already been tricked...

    October 25, 2012 09:05 am at 9:05 am |
  10. Paul "Look at MEEE!!! I'm working in a soup kitchen!!!" Ryan

    The Ryan Voucher Plan will include a "Legalize Euthanasia" clause and a free gun. The seniors will need it to commit suicide when their health care dollars run out. "Trick or Treat" seniors.......boom!!!!!!

    October 25, 2012 09:19 am at 9:19 am |
  11. vc

    RRRF. Romney/Ryan= Red Flag.
    Doesn't it say a lot about the GOP ticket that they are struggling to carry their own states? To me, this is a huge red flag.

    Massachusetts knows Romney. They supported him and he had plenty of opportunity there to do well, but he left them with a huge deficit and less jobs than when he entered.

    Wisconsin hates Ryan. They feel he did not represent his constituents well in Washington.

    October 25, 2012 09:31 am at 9:31 am |
  12. cptpooppants

    Let's see you go trick or treating in the ghetto, with all the people you are going to screw over if you get elected.

    October 25, 2012 09:35 am at 9:35 am |