1) Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.): “Paul Ryan shares my belief that we don’t hold election certificates to sit on the sidelines and that the only way to tackle some of the big challenges facing our nation is to work together on big solutions,” Wyden said in December upon the release of Ryan's proposal for Medicare reform. “Paul has also long-shared my view that the best way to hold down health costs is to give all Americans the ability to hire and fire their insurance company.”

2) Erskine Bowles, former Clinton chief of staff: Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff was a co-chair of President Obama’s deficit commission, on which Ryan served. Bowles sang Ryan’s praises in September 2011 during an event at the University of North Carolina.

 

“Have any of you met Paul Ryan?” he asked the audience. “We should get him to come to the university. I’m telling you this guy is amazing. I always thought that I was okay with arithmetic, but this guy can run circles around me. And, he is honest. He is straightforward. He is sincere.”