Embattled Wisconsin Republicans court Rep. Paul Ryan's support in recall fight

Wisconsin Republican state senators are seeking Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), author of the proposed Republican budget plan, to join their fundraising efforts as they face recall elections.

Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee, is one of the featured attendees of a fundraiser this Friday for recently recalled Republican state Sen. Albert Darling of Milwaukee. Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R), Gov. Scott Walker (R), and U.S Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) are also among the featured guests at the event, which charges $30 for admission.

Another Republican state senator, Dan Kapanke of La Crosse, previously invited Ryan to a fundraiser in May, but Ryan was unable to attend because of a family event.

The liberal groups Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy For America have raised over $200,000 as part of a media campaign to oust the Republican state senators Kapanke, Darling and Randy Hopper of Green Bay. They said Ryan's invitation to these fundraisers shows that the embattled senators support the U.S. congressman's budget cutting agenda.

"Alberta Darling is part of the same national Republican war on working families that is trying to end Medicare and cut programs like BadgerCare," Neil Sroka, PCCC spokesman, said. "Paul Ryan's endorsement of her will be an issue in this campaign."

A survey conducted by the Democrat-affiliated firm Public Policy Polling in May found that a majority of voters in Wisconsin had an unfavorable view of Ryan, whose budget proposal includes privatizing Medicare. Forty-six percent had an unfavorable view of the U.S. congressman, compared to 41 percent who had a favorable view.

The Wisconsin Elections Board has certified recall elections this summer for six Republican state senators and three Democratic state senators.