Opinions Split On Ryan's Medicare Plan

If there was ever any question whether Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan is beloved by the Republican base, doubts were put to rest Wednesday evening.

Ryan does, however, bring some baggage to the ticket. He offered a controversial budget that would turn Medicare into a voucher program. The Romney camp has already said that while the former governor supports Ryan's budget he would have offered a different one.

Virginia Del. Ken Boyd says Ryan's controversial plan is better than not addressing the state of entitlements.

"He's putting something on the table," says Boyd. "I don't see anything being put on the table from the other side."

Del. Michael Cogar from Norfolk, Va. is a chair for the state's College Republicans. He says Democrats' attempts to stoke fear over Ryan's budget aren't working with young voters.

"They really like to attack him for that," says Cogar. "Especially with the ad showing him pushing off, or a look-alike of him pushing an old lady off a cliff, but what he really wants is to make sure it's there for future generations. And the way it is now they raided Medicare for Obamacare, and it's not going to be there and someone like Ryan who is trying to fix the system is really going to make sure it's there for seniors and future generations."

But even in this crowd of die-hard political activists, the details of the plan to turn Medicare into a voucher program aren't well known.

"Well, I don't know the exact changes to Medicare, but I know that we've got to make some changes with Medicare or we'll all lose it," says Del. Kay Gunter, from Clarke County, Va. "It's not going to be there for any of us."

The Obama Campaign is trying to use Ryan's budget to attract support from seniors, a group that could decide this year's contest.