Ryan: Shocked at loss, Obama won fair and square

November 13, 2012 @ 4:01 pm


FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2012, file photo then-Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., gestures as he speaks during a campaign event at Johnson's Corner in Johnstown, Colo. Ryan acknowledges that he was shocked when he and presidential nominee Mitt Romney lost last week's election. Ryan says President Barack Obama won fair and square. In an interview with ABC News being aired Tuesday, Ryan says he and Romney thought they had a very good chance of winning Nov. 6. He cites polling, other data, and what he calls "the smart people who watch this stuff" for his optimistic view election night. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File) | Zoom

WASHINGTON (AP) - The polling and other data and all the smart people watching the election gave Rep. Paul Ryan an optimistic view on the night of last week's election. When Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney lost, his running mate felt "a bit of a shock."

"Going into Boston that day, we felt like we had a pretty darn good chance of winning," Ryan told ABC News in an interview broadcast Tuesday. "So as you can imagine, it was a bit of a shock when we didn't win, but that's just the way these things go."

Ryan said President Barack Obama deserves to be congratulated for having "a fantastic ground game."

"He won fair and square," Ryan said of Obama. "He got more votes, and that's the way our system works, and so he ought to be congratulated for that."

Had he been at the top of the ticket, Ryan said, he would have run exactly the kind of campaign that Romney oversaw. Ryan said he and Romney "felt very good about the race we ran."

Ryan, who was re-elected to an eighth term in the House, returned to the Capitol on Tuesday to resume his duties as House Budget Committee chairman.

"There's an upside to losing," Ryan said, "which is a reconnection with my family." He said he had already attended basketball and volleyball games in which his children _ he has two sons and a daughter _ were playing and looked forward to taking his daughter deer hunting.

"Bad news: Dad lost. The good news: They get to stay at the same school," he said. "That was the upside of all this. The downside is we didn't win the election that we really wanted to win."


(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (58)


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  • Kosh wrote...
    Why Not?
    August 13, 2012 5:05 pm
    The WORST president in US history should be criticized for all his failed policies.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    Wrong again kosh
    August 15, 2012 3:32 pm
    One of your own republicans will go down in history as the worst, the sad 8 years that bush (cheney) ran this country into the ground, which Obama is trying to recover, with no help from the republicans. If romney somehow becomes president, we are all doomed.
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  • CldWtrSrf wrote...
    WRONG again longway....
    September 12, 2012 2:00 pm
    I ALWAYS though that Bush would go down as the worst President in history, but Emperor Obama has overwhelmingly taken that mantle IMO. If somehow former Liberal Democrat Mittens Romney gets in there, Barry and Romney can split the title of Worst President Ever, because everyone know that Mittens and Barry are EXACTLY the same. Owned by the same Masters, same policies on everything of substance.
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  • Kosh wrote...
    Thanks wrongway
    August 15, 2012 4:42 pm
    That brought a big smile to my face knowing you will be very unhappy when libs lose it all this year :)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Kosh
    August 15, 2012 6:26 pm
    Can you explain to me how The Ryan Budget Plan appeals to the middle class? This is a plan that Romney endorses. Can you also explain to me how Romney can debate Obamacare when it is in fact Romneycare?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    It's because
    August 15, 2012 9:26 pm
    Ryan can do simple Math. Unlike any retarded Democrat in the last decade. Obamacare is the biggest tax ever forced upon the American People. Obamacare has already taken $700 Billion from An already broke Medicare and will leave the balance of this clusterf**k will fall squarely on the back of the middle class. There is NO WAY possible or it to be paid for by any other source. The Democrats have screwed the Middle Class once again. The Rich will always be able to afford whatever we want. Liars never figure and figures never lie.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    Maple
    August 15, 2012 9:46 pm
    I take it that you are rich. You say "the rich will always be able to afford whatever WE want." Great. Ryan can do simple math. But it doesn't add up. His plan still increases the debt. This debt is on the backs of the middle class. The tax breaks are all geared for the rich and corporations. There are no cuts for the middle class. The rich have absolutely no skin in the game. I see why you like it. The problem is, you don't represent the middle class. If I were a rich selfish guy such as yourself, I can understand where you are coming from. And your take on Romneycare is strange. It was introduced by your party, promoted by your party and implemented by your presidential candidate.
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  • maplefish wrote...
    Selfish?
    September 26, 2012 10:45 pm
    WSU - I probably give more to charity in one year than you will make in a lifetime. I care deeply about the less fortunate and especially about the LIES that Obama is telling the America People! ObamaCare is a TAX that will fall directly on the backs of the middle class. For someone like you who claims to be for the working family, I would think you old figure this out? Come on man! The Democrats are screwing the Middle Class and you just keep buying their Bullshitt! Wake the eF up!
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  • longwayhome wrote...
    wsu
    August 15, 2012 7:19 pm
    He can't because he doesn't have a clue. He posts what he hears on faux news and from the limbaugh cesspool of knowledge. Persons with above average income and intelligence will not vote for the republican party this time. Maybe in 8 or 12 years there might be a republican president, but 2012 is settled already. Obama-Biden.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Well then
    August 15, 2012 9:28 pm
    We knw that you are far below the intelligence line and most probably still live in your parents basement and indulge in food stamps...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Above average intelligence...
    September 26, 2012 9:33 pm
    Well that pretty much rules you out of the equation...LOL! And yes, I have made good choices throughout my life and am happily retired at 50 years old. I have also raised 4 children, 3 of which I am putting through college with NO HELP from the Government. I am fiscally conservative and socially liberal, but I am also very concerned with the well being of the middle class in this country. And if you Liberals had any clue about economics or how business really works you would be concerned about what Obama and this administration is doing to the MIDDLE CLASS! You people really need to wake up and pay attention to the damage that has been done. Barak Obama is destroying this country....oh, well, I'll be fine, but you guys are gonna be screwed even worse in 4 years if Obama is re- elected...Good Luck Liberals
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BarnDerk wrote...
    A budget
    September 7, 2012 7:19 am
    A budget by some as also called a plan. Proposing a budget that improves a situation even if it isn't a complete solution is still progress. Anyone who looks at a bad situation and says its really bad and continues to go in the same direction saying "what difference does it make" is overwhelmed and has given up.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    How can Ryan say that? what jobs has he created?
    September 7, 2012 12:07 pm
    He even voted against the 9/11 responders. Denying medical aid for the heros of that tragic day. SHAME on Lyin Ryan.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hnuh wrote...
    09-07-2012 Ryan says 0bama 'really bad'...
    September 7, 2012 3:10 pm
    Plain fact is, no president creates any jobs (other than government jobs which are not really jobs in the productive sense). Presidents, however, through policy, can either encourage job creation or stand in the way of job creation. Certainly the current occupant of the white house has demonstrated a remarkable ability to block and obstruct the creation of jobs.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    the defense cuts that Ryan voted on.
    September 12, 2012 12:10 pm
    my oh my these two have some serious credibility problems.

    you can't vote to slash DOD funding and then call out the President for slashing DOD funding.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Hey Left wing Parrots!
    September 14, 2012 10:27 am
    How are your Dear Leaders re immaculation chances today? November?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • hpitantso wrote...
    Fishmaple wrote...
    September 14, 2012 12:01 pm
    Ryan can do simple Math? He can also run a sub 3mintue marathon!!! R&R doesve a plan for the middle class STUPID! That's the truth period. Stop confusing yourself.America will get in 53 days
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    hpitantso
    September 26, 2012 9:48 pm
    And Obama can do math? LOL! $6 Trillion added to our debt with ZERO new jobs....yeah, that's Democrat Math for ya. Then he turns around and blames Bush and say's stupid sh *t like " you didn't build that" or " Rich folks need to pay their fair share" .... The guy is PATHETIC! He is an eF ing JOKE!!!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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