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| Mitt Romney |
(Fox News Five) In his first interview since entering solo Paul Ryan as his running mate, Mitt Romney, on Wednesday tried to create daylight between his plan for health insurance and the proposed budget controversial running mate, saying CBS News that Ryan had joined his campaign - not vice versa.
"Congress Ryan joined my safari, and his safari is today my safari," the likely Republican presidential nominee told "CBS This Morning". "We're precisely on as is page."
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Why the fuss on the Paul Ryan Medicare?
Ryan budget has become a lightning rod for debate in the days since he joined the GOP ticket, especially in light of its controversial budget plan, which includes an overhaul of Medicare. Romney campaign has gone on the offensive on Medicare, trying to own the conversation by pressing President Obama for trying to "steal" from Medicare $ 716 billion to pay for his health care plan .
Ryan budget, however, would have included most of the reductions in Medicare same as those described in the president's plan for health care, and Democrats have criticized the duo for what they cast as a criticism hypocritical.
"Ryan's budget admits $ 700 billion of rescues under Obamacare, which arise from the elimination of subsidies to insurance companies, reduce waste and fraud, and reforming delivery systems that will help you keep older people healthy, "said Obama campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith, in a press release following a" 60 Minutes "interview with Ryan and Romney.
Asked about budget cuts Medicare proposed by Ryan on Wednesday, Romney suggested that the Republican of Wisconsin would fall into line to support a plan that excluded such reductions.
"The President's cuts of 716 billion to Medicare, these cuts will be restored if I become chairman, and Paul Ryan becomes V.P.," he told. "My loyalty is, if I become president, I will restore the $ 716 billion to fund health insurance trust so that seniors can not know what current funding is not attacked and we will make - and get Medicare on track to be solvent long term on a permanent basis.”
Given the relative lack of Romney existing policy proposals - particularly in relation to his vice presidential running mate - many have asked the parties to adopt Ryan budget if President Romney.
"Are you keeping going the budget [Ryan] or your budget?" CBS News' Anthony Mason asked the candidate on Wednesday.
"My budget, of course," said Romney. "I am the only candidate for president."
Took for particular examples of how Romney's budget proposal different from Ryan, Romney reiterated that the two are on the "same page", but noted that under his plan, "I we arrive at a balanced budget faster than the plane [Ryan] originally put forward "and that Ryan's proposed rate the highest tax at 25 percent, is lower than that of Romney, which is 28 percent.
"There are a few conflicts, but they're very similar," he said.
