Scott Brown Praises Paul Ryan, But Keeps Distance

Scott Brown Keeps Distance From Paul Ryan
U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., addresses an audience during a meeting of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, in Randolph, Mass., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. The Massachusetts Republican said he's trying to keep taxes low to help businesses grow, while portraying Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren as a "jobs destroyer" who favors a heavier tax burden. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., addresses an audience during a meeting of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, in Randolph, Mass., Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012. The Massachusetts Republican said he's trying to keep taxes low to help businesses grow, while portraying Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren as a "jobs destroyer" who favors a heavier tax burden. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Aware of the razor-thin margin separating himself and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren in liberal Massachusetts, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) has been careful to not show too much praise for Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

“It was a bold choice,” Brown told the Boston Globe about Romney's selection. “It certainly raises the bar when you want to talk about our country’s financial problems, and he’ll raise that conversation to a good level. ... While we don’t agree on everything, I certainly appreciate his efforts to bring the budgetary ideas to the forefront.”

Talking to reporters on Monday, Brown apparently grew frustrated with repeated questions about Ryan's proposals, according to the Globe. As the paper noted, the Wisconsin Republican's stances have the potential to antagonize the moderate and senior voters that Ryan hopes to win over by November.

“Listen, you'll have to speak to Ryan about his ideas,” Brown said in response to a question about Ryan’s plan to raise the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 by 2034. “I have my own ideas, and we’ve been voting on them.”

Warren and Brown are in a dead heat for the Senate seat. A recent poll from MassINCPolling had Warren winning by a 40-38 percent margin.

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