This Day For Republicans: Ryan Studies Up, Romney Closes Swing State Gap

By Laura Matthews | October 11 2012 11:21 AM

-- Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan is hoping to bag another debate victory for the Republican Party when he meets Vice President Joe Biden tonight. Reports are that Ryan has been carrying around thick briefing books in preparation for veteran debater Biden. Chances are Biden will apply pressure on Ryan about the Republicans' planned tax and budget cuts; Medicare overhaul; and GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” comment. President Barack Obama failed to hold Romney accountable for those things during the first presidential debate last week, so Democrats are hoping Biden will step up to the plate.

Reuters

Paul Ryan's newest budget aims to balance the federal budget in 10 years.

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-- Romney is quickly closing the gap between himself and Obama among likely voters in some swing-state polls. Still riding high off his presidential debate win, the Republican edged out Obama in Colorado by 1 percentage point (48 to 47 percent) in a new Quinnipiac University/CBS News/ New York Times poll.

-- Ann Romney is preparing to campaign for her husband on Friday in Hudsonville, Mich. She has been a valued member of the campaign for reaching out to female voters in critical swing states such as Florida, where she toured Tampa’s Moffitt Cancer Center on Wednesday, sharing with breast cancer patients her story of survival from the same disease. Mitt Romney has been struggling to attract more female voters’ support, and negative ads from the Obama camp aren't helping. Ann Romney might just be the right tool for the job, as a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll shows that 56 percent of voters have a positive impression of her now that they are a bit more familiar with the possibly next first lady.