Paul Ryan Creams His Primary Opponent

Rival's courting of Trump failed to pay off
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 10, 2016 1:13 AM CDT
Paul Ryan Cruises to Victory in Primary
Supporters applaud as Paul Nehlen speaks Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2016, in Janesville, Wis.    (Angela Major)

House Speaker Paul Ryan rejected the idea that his easy win Tuesday over a longshot Republican primary challenger praised by Donald Trump spells danger for Trump's presidential prospects in the swing state of Wisconsin. All the huge primary win means, Ryan insisted after winning by around 70 percentage points, is that he's really well-liked in the congressional district where he was born and raised and has won elections to represent since 1998, the AP reports. Businessman Paul Nehlen had been courting Trump supporters and won praise from the Republican presidential nominee last week. But despite their strained relationship, Trump endorsed Ryan days later.

Ryan had largely ignored Nehlen in what had been a sleepy primary before Trump thanked Nehlen on Twitter for his comments defending Trump. Nehlen won the backing of some prominent conservative figures, including former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, but it wasn't enough to overcome Ryan's popularity in his southeastern Wisconsin district. "We knew we were going to do well," Ryan said. "We got the votes we were hoping and expecting to get all along. The outcome is exactly what we were hoping for." (More Paul Ryan stories.)

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