Ryan Skips Stimulus Topic at Post-Debate Breakfast - East Idaho News
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Ryan Skips Stimulus Topic at Post-Debate Breakfast

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Getty 090412 PaulRyan?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1350071261216 J.D. Pooley/Getty Images(Lexington, Ky.) — Paul Ryan said Friday that he “felt great” about his debate with Vice President Biden, but declined to discuss Biden’s taunting reference to Ryan’s request for stimulus funds after criticizing the Obama administration program.

“We’re going to get through it later. We’re going to eat breakfast now,” Ryan said Friday morning when he was asked about the stimulus request as he and his family went to breakfast.

When asked if he felt “knocked around” by Biden at the debate in Danville, Ky., Thursday night he said, “No, no. It’s what I expected.”

The Republican vice presidential candidate was less talkative when asked if he regretted sending two letters requesting stimulus funds after consistently blasting the federal stimulus program.

It’s a point that his opponent brought up during the debate when Ryan attacked the stimulus.

“I love my friend here,” Biden said in one of several animated exchanges. “I’m not allowed to show letters here, but go on our website. He sent me two letters saying, by the way, can you send me some stimulus money for companies here in the state of Wisconsin?”

Ryan acknowledged requesting for funding: “On two occasions we advocated for constituents who were applying for grants.”

He added that requesting those types of funds is something members of Congress do regularly for the people in their district.

“I love that, I love that,” Biden said, while laughing. “This is such a bad program and he writes me a letter saying — writes the Department of Energy a letter saying the reason we need this stimulus, it will create growth and jobs. His words. And now he’s sitting here looking at me.”

When it was revealed earlier in the campaign that Ryan did request funds he took responsibility for it, but said they were “treated as a constituent service requests in the same way matters involving Social Security and Veterans Affairs were handled…They should have been handled differently and I take responsibility for that.”

Accompanied by his wife Janna in a purple dress and his two sons Charlie and Sam in red Wisconsin fleeces as well as his daughter Liza, the family ate breakfast together and were greeted by applause when they entered Josie’s Grab N Go restaurant. His 7-year-old Sam was extra hungry from the late night saying to his dad, “How about pancakes and waffles?”

Joe Biden returned home to Delaware last night after the debate with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden and their family. He campaigns Friday in Ryan’s home state of Wisconsin.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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