Politics & Government

Flash Poll: Georgia Republicans Enthusiastic about Paul Ryan Pick for VP

A Patch panel of GOP elected officials and activists say they see Ryan as a strong conservative.

A Patch poll conducted Saturday found that Republican respondents are enthusiastic about Mitt Romney’s decision to tap Rep. Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate.

Most of those who took part in the nonscientific poll agreed that Ryan, a Wisconsin congressman, will ‘galvanize’ support for Romney in the Peach State.

“He is actually presenting America with ideas and a vision,” noted one of the respondents. “Whether you agree with all of those ideas or not, at least he is offering up something for debate.”

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Twenty-eight Republican elected officials, candidates and activists completed the survey. Sixty four percent of respondents agreed with the statement “Mitt Romney’s decision to choose Paul Ryan as his VP candidate will galvanize Georgia Republicans.”

Responses were a bit more tempered on whether the selection would help Romney win over undecided voters in Georgia: 39 percent strongly agreed and 36 percent said they somewhat agreed.

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Respondents overwhelmingly disagreed with the notion that the Ryan pick would allow Democrats a chance to win the presidential race by running against the Congressman’s budget plans, especially his proposal for Medicare: 54 percent strongly disagreed and 25 percent said they somewhat disagree with that notion.

Reaction was a lot more mixed on whether adding Ryan to the ticket would galvanize Georgia Democrats: 43 percent said they somewhat disagreed or strongly disagreed and 39 percent said they somewhat agreed or strongly agreed.

Here are some excerpts from the respondents' comments:

  • “A young, wildly intelligent and articulate conservative. He has already proven himself and shown he can make the tough decisions.”
  • “Paul Ryan's strengths balance Romney's weaknesses.  Ryan is a smart, issues focused conservative.  He compliments Romney's reputation as a liberal conservative.  Romney's reputation as a crony capitalist will be balanced by Ryan's free market ideology where no one gets special tax status, not even Bain.”
  • “We now have a clear choice from those who want to see us move more to a socialized government and those who believe that government is not the answer.”

Related headlines from Patch sites across the country:

NH Tea Party Founder: Paul Ryan is No Ron Paul

Would you like to take part in future polls? If you are an elected official, candidate or party activist _ Republican or Democrat _ and you'd like to take part in our surveys, please email Regional Editor Anna Varela.


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