Iowa, Paul Ryan | featured news

Representative Paul D. Ryan spoke from a political soapbox as President Obama began a three-day bus tour through a swing state. In an early test of themes that will undoubtedly dominate the campaign in the remaining months, the two men parried on welfare, the unemployment rate and the role of government. Mr. Obama painted his rival as a conservative ideologue whose refusal to compromise has led to the Washington gridlock that has alienated many Americans.

If there were any questions about whether Paul Ryan would spark strong reactions as Republican Mitt Romney’s newly-picked running mate, they were answered today amid the Jumbo Corn Dog stands and funnel cake carts of the Iowa State Fair.