Romney's GOP VP Pick Tested On Campaign Trail
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Congressman Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's newly announced vice presidential pick, has already become a lightning rod in the 2012 presidential campaign.
Ryan was tested Monday when a half dozen hecklers and protesters interrupted his remarks at a campaign event in Iowa.
"It's funny because Iowans and Wisconsinites, we like to be respectful of one another and peaceful with one another and listen to one another. These ladies must not be from Iowa or Wisconsin," he said.
Two protesters tried to climb onstage and continue the protest, but one was led away by an Iowa State police officer.
President Obama, who also campaigned in Iowa, declared Ryan as a true believer in discredited trickle down economic policy and would end Medicare.
Fernando Guerra, a political science professor from Loyola Marymount, said the attacks on Ryan have put the Romney ticket on the defense for the past couple of days.
"The narrative should have been all about the economy and why Ryan helps the Romney campaign and the administration and the nation…if he's elected. That hasn't been the narrative. It's been playing defense about Medicare and other issues Ryan has brought up," he said.
KCAL9's Dave Bryan said most voters don't know a lot about Ryan.
Don Christensen said he doesn't know more than what he hears on television.
"Fourteen years he's been in the business of running the government, some title… whatever," said Christensen.
Activists from both parties are thrilled with the selection of Ryan for very different reasons.
"I think he's a good choice for Democrats. Because I think there are a lot of seniors that are not going to vote for a Romney-Ryan plan," said Obama supporter Jean O'Neil.
Bryan said the election will probably come down to about 10 battleground states, which doesn't include California.
