by Chris Bodenner
A reader writes:
This isn't as much for you as for John Fund, but this is just Paul Ryan lying to John Fund. Bush carried Ryan's district in both 2000 and 2004.
Another:
Furthermore, Ryan's district voted for McCain at higher percentages than the nation at large. The district has a partisan voting index of R+1. In the last century, it has sent 11 Republicans to Congress and only 4 Democrats (and 1 Progressive).
Another:
Ryan's crossover appeal possibly is potent, but I'm not sure if looking at his election record speaks that strongly to such an appeal at a national level. According to Lizza's recent piece, the Ryan name goes a long way in his district:
Three families, the Ryans, the Fitzgeralds, and the Cullens, sometimes called the Irish Mafia, helped develop the town, especially in the postwar era. The Ryans were major road builders, and today Ryan, Inc., started in 1884 by Paul’s great-grandfather, is a national construction firm. The historic Courthouse section of Janesville is still thick with members of the Ryan clan …
So it seems his name was a big reason he was recruited to run for office. Even though he's able to score Dem votes locally, that might simply be because his family has deep roots in the district and has employed many for years (Corporate HQ is still in town). I'd need to see more evidence to believe independents and Dems across the nation will eventually find him and his proposed policies palatable enough to vote for his ticket. And considering the polling done about his budget … I'm skeptical.
Another:
Philip Klein's argument is disingenuous; Paul Ryan has never faced a serious challenger in his district. That factor, not the cross-over appeal of his views, or his persona charm, explains why he's won with such large margins of victory. The Democrats in WI and nationally have never taken seriously the notion that they should mount a serious challenge to Ryan in his House contests. Take a look at the expenditures of his opponents to see what I mean:
The Dish 