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Paul Ryan beats outsider 'mini-Donald Trump' challenger in Wisconsin primary Paul Ryan beats outsider 'mini-Donald Trump' challenger in Wisconsin primary
(about 5 hours later)
Paul Ryan, the Republican party’s most senior elected official, has survived an insurgent challenge in his own backyard from an outsider candidate dubbed a “mini-Donald Trump”.Paul Ryan, the Republican party’s most senior elected official, has survived an insurgent challenge in his own backyard from an outsider candidate dubbed a “mini-Donald Trump”.
The House speaker comprehensively beat maverick businessman Paul Nehlen in Tuesday’s Republican primary in Wisconsin’s 1st congressional district. The US House speaker comprehensively beat maverick businessman Paul Nehlen in Tuesday’s Republican primary in Wisconsin’s 1st congressional district.
Ryan, who did not accept Nehlen’s challenge to a debate during the campaign, told reporters in Janesville on Tuesday night: “We knew we were going to do well. The outcome is exactly what we were hoping for and what we were expecting. Desperate candidates do desperate things for attention and I think that’s what we saw here.”Ryan, who did not accept Nehlen’s challenge to a debate during the campaign, told reporters in Janesville on Tuesday night: “We knew we were going to do well. The outcome is exactly what we were hoping for and what we were expecting. Desperate candidates do desperate things for attention and I think that’s what we saw here.”
Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said: “Congratulations to my friend Paul Ryan on a well-earned victory. Speaker Ryan’s commitment to faithfully representing the people of Wisconsin and making the case for conservatism have never changed, and his years of principled public service make him a trusted leader in our party.”Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee, said: “Congratulations to my friend Paul Ryan on a well-earned victory. Speaker Ryan’s commitment to faithfully representing the people of Wisconsin and making the case for conservatism have never changed, and his years of principled public service make him a trusted leader in our party.”
Jeb Bush tweeted his support for Ryan, saying: “Wisconsin Republicans rewarded strong, principled leadership today. There is a #BetterWay.”Jeb Bush tweeted his support for Ryan, saying: “Wisconsin Republicans rewarded strong, principled leadership today. There is a #BetterWay.”
Big win for my friend @PRyan and for America! Wisconsin Republicans rewarded strong, principled leadership today. There is a #BetterWay.Big win for my friend @PRyan and for America! Wisconsin Republicans rewarded strong, principled leadership today. There is a #BetterWay.
Nehlen leapt to national attention when he earned praise from Trump last week. The presidential nominee stirred party tensions further when he initially declined to endorse 46-year-old Ryan.Nehlen leapt to national attention when he earned praise from Trump last week. The presidential nominee stirred party tensions further when he initially declined to endorse 46-year-old Ryan.
But Trump finally gave in to pressure and gave his endorsement last Friday at a rally from which Nehlen was barred.But Trump finally gave in to pressure and gave his endorsement last Friday at a rally from which Nehlen was barred.
In reality Nehlen was always a long shot trying to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the century. Indeed Trump himself struggled to make an impact in Wisconsin, where he was soundly beaten by Ted Cruz in the Republican primaries. He lost the 1st congressional district by 19 percentage points.In reality Nehlen was always a long shot trying to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the century. Indeed Trump himself struggled to make an impact in Wisconsin, where he was soundly beaten by Ted Cruz in the Republican primaries. He lost the 1st congressional district by 19 percentage points.
But Nehlen, 47, did win the backing of some prominent conservative figures including former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Rightwing commentator Ann Coulter campaigned for him.But Nehlen, 47, did win the backing of some prominent conservative figures including former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Rightwing commentator Ann Coulter campaigned for him.
Nehlen was likened to Trump as he shared or took further some of the nominee’s controversial positions. He called for the building of a wall along the Mexican border and suggested the deportation of “sharia-compliant” Muslims. He criticised Ryan over trade, branding him a “soulless globalist” and promising to “repatriate” jobs to America.Nehlen was likened to Trump as he shared or took further some of the nominee’s controversial positions. He called for the building of a wall along the Mexican border and suggested the deportation of “sharia-compliant” Muslims. He criticised Ryan over trade, branding him a “soulless globalist” and promising to “repatriate” jobs to America.
Nehlen, an executive at a water filtration company, made a web video of himself riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, showing his tattooed arms. He challenged Ryan to an arm-wrestling match if he refused to debate him. He also had the backing of veterans of the Tea Party movement.Nehlen, an executive at a water filtration company, made a web video of himself riding a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, showing his tattooed arms. He challenged Ryan to an arm-wrestling match if he refused to debate him. He also had the backing of veterans of the Tea Party movement.
But all this proved futile against Ryan’s strong local base and to local commentators the result was never in doubt. Ryan was first elected in 1998 and this is his first re-election win since becoming Speaker in 2015. He outraised the unknown Nehlen by a 17 to 1 ratio through the latest finance reporting period and shored up his position with TV ads, radio interviews and campaign stops. But all this proved futile against Ryan’s strong local base and to local commentators the result was never in doubt. Ryan was first elected in 1998 and this is his first re-election win since becoming speaker in 2015. He out-raised the unknown Nehlen by a 17-to-1 ratio through the latest finance reporting period and shored up his position with TV ads, radio interviews and campaign stops.
Ryan hosted a low-key, 10-minute press conference without a balloon or champagne bottle in sight at an events venue called The Armory.Ryan hosted a low-key, 10-minute press conference without a balloon or champagne bottle in sight at an events venue called The Armory.
Across the street, the ornately decorated Monterey Hotel – which opened in 1929 and hosted John F Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt and Louis Armstrong – stands abandoned and boarded up. Janesville and other cities in the district have suffered decades of industrial decline and manufacturing job losses which, in theory, should have been fertile territory for a Trump disciple railing against global trade.Across the street, the ornately decorated Monterey Hotel – which opened in 1929 and hosted John F Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt and Louis Armstrong – stands abandoned and boarded up. Janesville and other cities in the district have suffered decades of industrial decline and manufacturing job losses which, in theory, should have been fertile territory for a Trump disciple railing against global trade.
But Nehlen failed to gain traction, with Ryan on course to gain about three-quarters of the votes cast. Asked if the broader lesson of Nehlen’s thrashing is that Trump himself is doomed in the presidential election, Ryan replied: “I don’t think it means he’s doomed in November. I think it means right here in Wisconsin people know me very, very well.But Nehlen failed to gain traction, with Ryan on course to gain about three-quarters of the votes cast. Asked if the broader lesson of Nehlen’s thrashing is that Trump himself is doomed in the presidential election, Ryan replied: “I don’t think it means he’s doomed in November. I think it means right here in Wisconsin people know me very, very well.
“I’m a local guy. People know who I am, they know what I believe in and they know I mean what I say and I say what I mean and I don’t do it in a mean way, and I think that’s the kind of politics, that the kind of policies that Wisconsite Republicans reward. That’s why I think I won; I wouldn’t ascribe anything other to it than that.”“I’m a local guy. People know who I am, they know what I believe in and they know I mean what I say and I say what I mean and I don’t do it in a mean way, and I think that’s the kind of politics, that the kind of policies that Wisconsite Republicans reward. That’s why I think I won; I wouldn’t ascribe anything other to it than that.”
Other prominent Wisconsinites include Reince Priebus, chair of the Republican National Committee, and Governor Scott Walker. All three are likely to play a leading role in rebuilding the party if Trump suffers an electoral meltdown. Other prominent Wisconsinites include Priebus, the Republican National Committee chair, and Governor Scott Walker. All three are likely to play a leading role in rebuilding the party if Trump suffers an electoral meltdown.
Stephan Thompson, a Republican strategist and ally of Walker, said on Monday that Nehlen was a “phony” and a “big joke” who wanted his “15 minutes of fame”. He described Ryan’s balancing act – defending his seat, protecting the congressional majority and dealing with Trump – as “arguably the hardest job in politics right now”.Stephan Thompson, a Republican strategist and ally of Walker, said on Monday that Nehlen was a “phony” and a “big joke” who wanted his “15 minutes of fame”. He described Ryan’s balancing act – defending his seat, protecting the congressional majority and dealing with Trump – as “arguably the hardest job in politics right now”.
The Speaker is officially backing Trump, although privately he is said to be tormented by the nominee’s wayward antics. Yet another example reared its head on Tuesday. Ryan said he had a busy day and did not hear Trump’s comment about the second amendment, interpreted by opponents as an assassination threat against Hillary Clinton. “It sounds like just a joke gone bad,” he added. “I hope he clears it up very quickly. You should never joke about something like that.” The speaker is officially backing Trump, although privately he is said to be tormented by the nominee’s wayward antics. Yet another example reared its head on Tuesday. Ryan said he had a busy day and did not hear Trump’s comment about the second amendment, interpreted by some as an assassination threat against Hillary Clinton. “It sounds like just a joke gone bad,” he added. “I hope he clears it up very quickly. You should never joke about something like that.”
Ryan refused to answer a question about whether he would consider running for president in future.Ryan refused to answer a question about whether he would consider running for president in future.
As the primary result became clear, Nehlen, who was endorsed by a super PAC affiliated with conservative activists known as the Tea Party Patriots, insisted he had a won a victory of sorts. “We very likely stopped TPP [the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal] and damaged Paul Ryan’s ability to continue growing government,” he tweeted. “That’s the beginning of a fight we’re ready to get started.” As the primary result became clear, Nehlen, who was endorsed by a Super Pac affiliated with conservative activists known as the Tea Party Patriots, insisted he had a won a victory of sorts. “We very likely stopped TPP [the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal] and damaged Paul Ryan’s ability to continue growing government,” he tweeted. “That’s the beginning of a fight we’re ready to get started.”
Coulter posted a sarcastic tweet about the coverage of Ryan’s win, comparing it with his House Democratic counterpart Nancy Pelosi. “Can you imagine a breaking news story: “NANCY PELOSI WINS HER PRIMARY!” she wrote. Coulter posted a sarcastic tweet about the coverage of Ryan’s win, comparing it with his Democratic counterpart Nancy Pelosi. “Can you imagine a breaking news story: “NANCY PELOSI WINS HER PRIMARY!” she wrote.