Scott Walker: Paul Ryan appeals to swing voters

A day after Mitt Romney named Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) his vice presidential running mate, Ryan’s home state governor, Republican Scott Walker, sought to pitch the congressman to moderate voters, while President Obama’s chief strategist moved to cast him as far to the right of the political middle.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) says Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) relates well to all voters. (Joe Raedle - GETTY IMAGES)

Walker, who called the selection of Ryan a “game changing” choice, said on NBC’s “Meet The Press” Sunday morning that Ryan has “tremendous appeal to swing voters and independent voters.” He added that Ryan “relates well to voters all across the political spectrum.”

But Democrats take a different view. They plan to use Ryan’s budget proposal, which, among other things, transforms Medicare into a voucher system for Americans under 55, as a wedge issue in the fall.

“I think [Ryan’s selection] is a choice that will thrill the most strident voices in the Republican Party, the tea party, the social conservatives ,” said Obama adviser David Axelrod. “I think it’s going to be troubling to the mainstream of the American electorate.”

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” called the selection of Ryan an “excellent choice” and said the House Budget Committee chairman belongs to a “new generation of leadership in our party and nation.”

When asked if Ryan could overshadow Romney on the campaign trail, McCain said he doesn’t “think that’s the case” and joked, “ I had that problem,” an apparent reference to his 2008 vice presidential running mate, Sarah Palin.

McCain added that he “is still proud of his running mate, and is proud of the work he did with Palin.