Ryan's Congressional Opponent Says He's Getting More Campaign Cash
Rob Zerban, who is opposing U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, in the 1st Congressional District this fall, says he is seeing an increase in campaign contributions since Ryan was tapped to be the running mate of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Rob Zerban, the Democratic candidate in the 1st Congressional District, said Sunday he has seen a windfall in campaign donations ever since GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced that U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) would be his running mate.
Even though Ryan is the vice presidential nominee and will be on the ballot with Romney, he remains a candidate for his congressional seat as well and will take on Zerban in November.
Not surprisingly, Zerban told about 40 people at The Grind coffee shop in Mount Pleasant on Sunday that he is convinced Ryan will lose both seats.
Zerban pointed to Romney’s poll numbers after the announcement was made and noted that he will benefit as the Obama-Biden campaign continues to hammer away at Ryan’s budget plan.
“The Obama-Biden campaign will highlight every aspect of the Ryan budget in a way that we could have only dreamed of doing… and they are going to do it,” he said.
Zerban also believes some Republicans don’t back Ryan’s budget and that has not translated well for Romney in the polls.
“Usually, a presidential candidate will get a four to a five percent bump in the polls after the announcement — but Paul Ryan’s selection to the VP ticket has had the smallest bump in recorded history. And that’s due to the unpopularity of his ideas in the Ryan budget,” he said.
According to a story in USA Today:
“USA Today/Gallup polls of registered voters after the announcements of running mates since Dick Cheney in 2000 all showed more positive reactions. Only Dan Quayle in a 1988 Harris Poll of likely voters was viewed less positively than Ryan, with 52% rating Quayle as a "fair" or "poor" vice presidential choice. The Ryan poll includes all adults, not just registered voters.”
But Zerban still believes the 1st District race will be a “nail-biter."
The 1st District includes Oak Creek, Greendale, Mount Pleasant, Sturtevant, Caledonia and Muskego.
Over the last several months, there had been some skepticism from Washington, D.C., insiders on whether seat was in play. But after Romney’s announcement, there has been more media attention on the contest. That has translated into more dollars for Zerban’s war chest. A campaign aide said Zerban has received about $100,000 in contributions in the week since Ryan was announced as Romney's running mate.
However, Zerban has a long way to go if he expects to catch up with Ryan. As of July 25, Ryan had raised $4.3 million for the congressional race, while Zerban had taken in $1.2 million, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Ryan still has about $5.4 million on hand, according to the FEC. That's 10 times as much as the $527,000 Zerban had in his war chest as of July 25.
Still, Zerban said the Ryan nomination has been good for the race and the district.
“People in the district are realizing just now how much Ryan really hasn’t done anything for them,” Zerban said.
Attempts were made Sunday night to reach Ryan’s campaign staff, but no calls were returned.
Spate Cooley
10:25 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
This is news alert? Really lame.
Joseph
6:55 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Patch seems to be recently abusing the Breaking News Alert function...
Trevor Jung
11:10 pm on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Great Story! I'm glad we have fair coverage somewhere in this region.
GearHead
7:36 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
So in his own words, the answer is to raise taxes. The so-called rich have just as much right to keep their own money, as those of lesser means. The class warfare card will fail. You can't tax out of one side of your mouth, and expect economic prosperity out of the other. He can expect to receive a shellacking in November.
M.S.
8:51 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
The Uuber-rich have no problem keeping their own money! Look at R-R's tax rate vs yours.
When capital gains are taxed at lower rates, people like Romney will take their income in the lower tax form. C'mon, even Reagan knew that. Which is why he had cap gains taxed as ordinary income.
I won't even get into the fact that the wealthy wouldn't be as wealthy if it wasn't for public investments that benefit their businesses such as investments in transportation, security (police and military), education, fire protection, etc.
Keith Best
8:01 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Zerban called the Ryan Budget "unserious" yesterday on Upfront with Mike Gousha. Liberal Democrats in the senate have not provided a budget for over 3 years. Obama proposed one that received 0 votes. Ryan's passed in the House.
Who's budget was "unserious"???????
Resident of O.C. Paul
8:07 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Yeah, I love how people just make up words out of thin air. You have to wonder if they ever heard of a Dictionary...I have one on my desk at work.
Bren
12:40 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
It seems that anything to do with women's reproductive organs or extinguishing social investments gets passed in Congress these days. I'm ready for some forward momentum from that body, any day. I think the problem is Tea/GOP'rs who still don't understand proper procedures and the purpose of Congress. How many times was ACA voted down in Congress? 31 times? And we're paying these folks to posture. Ridiculous.
Larry
6:48 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/american_english/unserious?region=us&q=unserious
Resident of O.C. Paul
8:05 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Why is Ryan even campaigning for his re-election? He's not serving the people that he is supposed to be representing...his constituents while campaigning for vice president. Add to that that he is supposed to be campaigning for his re-election I don't see how he has any time to fully and properly represent his constituents. Just my opinion.
Keith Best
8:11 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Hey Resident---Did you think the same when Senator Obama spent most of his time in the US Senate campaigning for president?
Resident of O.C. Paul
10:44 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
Keith, what's your point? Was Obama campaigning for his senate seat while campaigning for presidency in 2008? It's one thing to campaign for one seat; It's another to be campaigning for 2 seats. Ryan should pick one and drop the other.
OH...FYI (for your information) Keith, I don't care for either Obama or Romney. I'm neither Republican nor Democrat, I'm Constitutional Conservative (not that party affiliation should have anything to do with anyone.). I wish there were a third candidate, because both Obama and Romney are not what America needs. Both will do as they please with no regard for the people of the United States, or the Laws set by the Constitution. Corporations and lobbyists are the President's friends, the citizens of the U.S. are the Presidents boss.
GearHead
11:35 am on Monday, August 20, 2012
@ Resident: Where is your call for Tammy Baldwin to give up her Congressional seat as she also runs for the Senate? Hello???
Resident of O.C. Paul
12:37 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
@ GearHead, My comment and "OPINION" was not about concerns with candidates currently serving one seat while seeking a different seat. It WAS about candidates seeking 2 seats e.g. Paul Ryan seeking a seat in Congress while seeking Vice Presidency.
And to bring up Tammy Baldwin...Is Tammy Baldwin seeking another seat other than the Senate seat? She will give up her Congressional seat if...yes, that's IF she gets elected to the Senate. IF she doesn't win the election she will be able to serve out her term in congress.
mau
2:25 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Barrett ran for Governor and Mayor at the same time. No outcry there.
Resident of O.C. Paul
3:44 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Mau, I was against Barrett having his name in 2 hats also, I felt he should stick to his campaign to be mayor of Milwaukee. Why no outcry from me in the initial comment about Barrett was that I was sticking to the subject at hand, which was about Paul Ryan and Ron Zerban, and not about Tom Barrett or Tammy Baldwin, or Barack Obama. Also read my reply to Concerned Citizen below, I think it might enlighten people to my position on this matter.
GearHead
8:49 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
@ Resident: Your words: "...Is Tammy Baldwin seeking another seat other than the Senate seat? She will give up her Congressional seat if...yes, that's IF she gets elected to the Senate. IF she doesn't win the election she will be able to serve out her term in congress."
How is that any different than Paul Ryan? She is in the same Congress as Ryan, seeking to be re-elected for the next congress (at the same time as her Senate bid). He too, will give up his congressional seat in a subsequent special election if he ascends to the Vice Presidency. Are you that misinformed, or just a flaming hippocrate?
Resident of O.C. Paul
10:57 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
GearHead...HELLO... have you read any of my other comments? Or are you reading only what you want to read? Also, I thought this article was about Paul Ryan and Ron Zerban, NOT about Tammy Baldwin, Tom Barrett or Barack Obama. Lets try to stick with the article, after all initially I was sticking to it, and the party/Parties in the article, again, I was not worried about Tammy Baldwin, Tom Barrett, or Barack Obama, But if that's what you want to focus on Here is my response: As I stated before I feel anyone seeking 2 offices at the same time should drop out of one race, and that includes any candidate at any level of government from the local level to the national level. Now about your comment, belittling and berating me, calling me "Misinformed, or a flaming hypocrite" is out of line and inappropriate...what are you 8 years old? I have been pretty nice refraining from belittling and berating others.
Concerned Citizen
12:20 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Or President Obama's as he has been campaigning since last Labor Day, and has not taken questions from the WH Press Corp in months?
Resident of O.C. Paul
12:42 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Obama owes it to the people to make a percentage of his time available to serve the people of the U.S. in his duties as President while campaigning...That is, he should take a break from it so that he can serve the people. for a while, then go back to it (e.g. 2 weeks running the nation, 1 or 2 weeks campaigning then 2 weeks running the nation, etc...). And this applies to not only Obama, but to every sitting member of government from the local level to the national level.
Dirk
3:18 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Why is this news? It doesn't matter; future VP Ryan will have bigger entitlements to chop in DC starting next January.