NORFOLK, VA - AUGUST 11: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) wave as Ryan is announced as his vice presidential running mate aboard the USS Wisconsin August 11, 2012 in Norfolk, Virginia. Ryan, a seven term congressman, is Chairman of the House Budget Committee and provides a strong contrast to the Obama administration on fiscal policy. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Immediately following Mitt Romney naming Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate, statements of support and opposition were released by various political figures and campaigns.
STATEMENT FROM GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT REGARDING MITT ROMNEY'S VP ANNOUNCEMENT: 12:10PM ET
"Congratulations to Governor Romney on picking Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate. Like Governor Romney, Congressman Ryan understands that government doesn't create jobs, people do. And that the best way to create jobs is to get government out of the way. I'm confident that Congressman Ryan will be a great partner for Governor Romney in getting America back to work."
STATEMENT FROM RPOF CHAIRMAN LENNY CURRY REGARDING MITT ROMNEY'S VP ANNOUNCEMENT: 12:10PM ET
"I commend Governor Mitt Romney on selecting vice presidential candidate Congressman Paul Ryan. Congressman Ryan's record of staunch fiscal responsibility is exactly the type of leadership America needs at this time. For years he has offered innovative ideas on how to fix some of the greatest problems facing our nation, such as reducing the federal deficit and reforming entitlement programs to ensure they are available for future generations.
"America's Comeback Team is a fitting name for Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan--when I think of what their combination of commonsense, conservative leadership can do for our country, I have high hopes for what lies ahead. I congratulate Congressman Ryan on receiving this honor today, and I look forward to working closely with their campaign to ensure that they achieve victory in Florida this November."
Here's what they're saying in Florida: 10:27Am ET
GOVERNOR JEB BUSH: "I applaud Mitt Romney's selection of Paul Ryan as his Vice Presidential running mate. Congressman Ryan's command of economic policy and the federal budget will prove invaluable as Governor Romney fights to reform government, accelerate job growth and rein in the out-of-control spending that has been a hallmark of President Obama's years in office. This courageous choice is the type of leadership American voters deserve. And, I believe it will ensure a victory for the Romney-Ryan ticket this November."
RNC CO-CHAIR SHARON DAY: "I share the Chairman's enthusiasm for Congressman Paul Ryan. The Romney-Ryan ticket will help get America working again."
CONGRESSMAN CONNIE MACK: "Paul Ryan understands the priorities needed to put our nation back on the road to more freedom, less government and renewed prosperity. I have known and worked with Paul Ryan since being elected to the Congress and was outraged time and again when his ideas to move our nation forward were killed by a liberal Senate. Now our party can give him the right platform and a Senate that will no longer be flawed and unworkable. With great pride, we all unite today behind the Romney-Ryan ticket."
WASHINGTON - The Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus and RNC Co-Chair Sharon Day released the following statement on Governor Mitt Romney's Vice Presidential choice, Congressman Paul Ryan: 10:11AM ET
"My friend and fellow Wisconsinite Paul Ryan will serve America admirably as the next Vice President of the United States. Today, Americans are starving for leaders who can fix our economy and get our spending under control. Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan have the knowledge, expertise and vision we need to get America working again and get our fiscal house in order. Across the country, Americans are hurting, but America's Comeback Team will offer us a new direction and a brighter future. I congratulate Governor Romney on his excellent decision. This is a great day for Wisconsin and for America," said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.
"I share the Chairman's enthusiasm for Congressman Paul Ryan. The Romney-Ryan ticket will help get America working again," said RNC Co-Chair Sharon Day.
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Marco Rubio issued the following statement regarding Governor Mitt Romney's selection of Congressman Paul Ryan as his running mate: 10:08AM ET
"Throughout his life, Mitt Romney has made great decisions, and choosing Paul Ryan as his running mate is a truly inspired choice. I got to know Paul during my Senate campaign when he endorsed me early on when I was still considered a long shot. Paul Ryan is a courageous reformer who understands our nation's challenges, has proposed bold policy solutions to solve them, and has shown the courage to stand up to President Obama and other Washington politicians trying to tear him down.
"The Romney-Ryan ticket is going to win in November because it offers the American people visionary leadership to recapture the free enterprise spirit that has empowered countless Americans to build businesses from scratch and live the American dream. I'm excited about the visionary change a Romney-Ryan team will bring to Washington, and I look forward to campaigning with them this fall."
Stuart, FL - Congressman Allen West today released this statement regarding the selection of Congressman Paul Ryan as Vice Presidential running-mate to Governor Mitt Romney: 10:06AM ET
"I am pleased to congratulate my colleague, Congressman Paul Ryan, on being selected to join Mitt Romney on the road to the White House as his Vice Presidential running-mate. As I have always said, I will wholeheartedly support the Republican candidates, and with true fiscal conservative Paul Ryan, on the ticket, I am particularly pleased to do so.
Congressman Ryan has a deep understanding of the fiscal challenges facing our nation in both the short and long term. He has consistently provided realistic, actionable solutions that will keep our promises to our seniors while putting our economy back on the "Road to Prosperity." Unlike President Obama, he put forward a serious budget.
The damaging economic policies of President Obama's administration have left Americans with unemployment at or above 8% for 42 months and they are now facing the largest tax increase in history. His foreign policies have emboldened our enemies and left our allies vulnerable. Our nation cannot afford to continue down this destructive path which seeks to wed more Americans to government handouts, saddles our children and grandchildren with insurmountable debt, weakens our defenses at home and abroad, and turns Americans against each other. President Romney and Vice President Ryan will put our nation back on a course of economic freedom and equality of opportunity for all Americans.
The combination of Mitt Romney's successful record in business and government, and Paul Ryan's legislative experience and willingness to lead on pressing fiscal problems is just the recipe to get America back on the right path. President Mitt Romney and Vice President Paul Ryan are what we need to begin restoring the greatness of our Constitutional Republic."
Obama for America Campaign Manager Jim Messina released the following statement in response to Mitt Romney picking Congressman Paul Ryan to be his presumptive nominee for vice president: 9:25AM ET
"In naming Congressman Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney has chosen a leader of the House Republicans who shares his commitment to the flawed theory that new budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, while placing greater burdens on the middle class and seniors, will somehow deliver a stronger economy. The architect of the radical Republican House budget, Ryan, like Romney, proposed an additional $250,000 tax cut for millionaires, and deep cuts in education from Head Start to college aid. His plan also would end Medicare as we know it by turning it into a voucher system, shifting thousands of dollars in health care costs to seniors. As a member of Congress, Ryan rubber-stamped the reckless Bush economic policies that exploded our deficit and crashed our economy. Now the Romney-Ryan ticket would take us back by repeating the same, catastrophic mistakes."
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), released the following statement today: 9:23AM ET
"In choosing Rep. Paul Ryan as his running mate, Gov. Romney has once again underscored that this election is about serious ideas and a turnaround in our nation's fiscal health. I served with Paul in the House, and know firsthand that, when it comes to budgetary matters, few in Washington are more respected than he is. I congratulate Gov. Romney on his choice of partner to lead America back to economic stability."
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