You challenge the nominating papers because it's easier and cheaper than campaigning. Even against an unknown. They'd probably prefer to spend that $100,000 to $500,000 or so from the RCCC on another more crucial race.

I'm surprised they're challenging the petition also but agree with Zoom, unopposed saves a lot of tedious fundraisers and spending for Ryan. I met him in person at a speaking engagement and found him to be a poor listener. He seemed aloof and didn't want to be distracted from the "influental" attendees.

Last note just for the record: just because I disagree with his politics does not mean I think he's a bad person. "Conservative yahoo" was meant to characterize politically, not personally, and that was not clear in the previous post. I have been to some listening sessions and talked to him and he does seem to really listen to people and give thoughtful feedback. He's almost scary smart. If I were running a business I would hire him instantly. The problem is I would like him to be available! Seriously, Paul Ryan should be doing something like running a Red Cross Chapter; he would do it brilliantly.

"I would think it would look better to them when Ryan stomps him with 60+% of the vote than winning unopposed."

Ryan won't have to spend any money if he can run unopposed.

Just another note on Paul Ryan: I remember hearing about him when he first ran in 1998 (I'm pretty sure of the date). He was very young and as I understand it he went from college to a congressional staff job in Washington and then ran for congress. In other words, he defined the term "Washington Insider" from the start. The irony of course is that he ran as outsider, promoting himself as a conservative people's candidate against the "big guvmint" insiders. When he pulled that nonsense off I was impressed with him as a candidate, but dismayed that my district would be represented by someone who could talk such a good game and vote the same "take from the poor and give to the rich" agenda as the other conservative yahoos.

Why would they bother even challenging his nominating petitions? I would think it would look better to them when Ryan stomps him with 60+% of the vote than winning unopposed.
I think it stinks that the Democrats just write off the first district, especially after it was so ably represented by Les Aspin for many years back in the day.
Paul Ryan is extremely smart and charismatic and of course keeps his foot out of his mouth. However, his voting record shows he is just as much an obstructionist reactionary as his less polished Republican colleagues.