Paul Ryan could help Tommy Thompson in Wisconsin Senate race

By Cameron Joseph - 08/15/12 03:10 PM ET

Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) spot on the presidential ticket could boost former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson's (R) chances at becoming senator.

Thompson is well-known and fairly well-liked in Wisconsin, and was already expected to run a few points ahead of Mitt Romney in the state. But Ryan's elevation to the ticket is likely to improve all Republicans' chances in the state by boosting GOP turnout as home-state pride and Tea Party excitement combine to help him.

His pick makes it more likely Romney will seriously contest Wisconsin, which President Obama won comfortably in 2008 but President George W. Bush lost by less than 1 percentage point in both 2000 and 2004. Two nonpartisan polls from just before Ryan was picked show Obama with a lead of 5 and 6 points in the state, figures that could tighten following Romney's pick.

Ryan has long looked up to Thompson, calling him "Wisconsin's greatest governor" in 2004.

"On a personal note, Tommy has been my greatest mentor. Of all things, he taught me that public service is about helping people reach their potential," Ryan said at the time. "He is a man of passion, big ideas and boundless enthusiasm."

The two are likely to stump together when Ryan is in the state.

The new VP candidate might have already helped Thompson, who won his Tuesday primary. While all four GOP Senate hopefuls were at a homecoming rally last Sunday for Ryan and Romney, Thompson was the only one Ryan name-checked, possibly giving him the boost he needed to beat businessman Eric Hovde (R) in the hard-fought race. He'll face Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in the fall.

"We see a president who took what we pioneered here in Wisconsin, Tommy Thompson, welfare reform, getting people off of welfare and back to working and lives of dignity and personal responsibility, on to a life of hitting their potential," Ryan said while attacking President Obama.

Thompson jumped on the comment, using it in a last-minute campaign ad and sending campaign emails touting a Ryan-Romney-Thompson ticket.