Ryan’s Charisma Convinces the Republican Base

Published in El Pais
(Spain) on 18 August 2012
by Eva Sáiz (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Soledad Gómez. Edited by Katya Abazajian.
Paul Ryan came to Virginia, spoke and convinced his listeners. The Republican politician returned this Friday to the same state in which he gave his first speech as the Republican candidate for vice president of the United States last week. The election thrilled the leaders of his party, who knew about Ryan’s potential after his 13 years in Congress, but outside the walls of the Capitol almost nobody knew about the new No. 2, including conservative voters. That curiosity to prove the political skills of the young representative from Wisconsin is what made many supporters, including undecided or independent voters, go to West Springfield High School to listen to what Ryan had to say. And Ryan did not disappoint them.

"The expectation that Ryan has created is great, but we will see how long it lasts," said Alberto Valdemoro, a 50-year-old lawyer from Colombia. "We need someone smart to face what is coming, not to end up like Europe. Ryan is brilliant, but too conservative,” he concluded. In past elections, Valdemoro voted for Republican and Democratic candidates and he attended this campaign rally to gather arguments and to decide who he would vote for on Nov. 6. Many attendees were defined as independent and undecided voters. Their votes could be decisive in the presidential election because Virginia is a key state. Helen Herbs, a 60-year-old retired woman knows about it. "I voted for Reagan, but I also voted for Clinton. Obama has let me down but Romney does not seem to be the best alternative. I would like to meet his No. 2," she said as she moved to the sound of country music that kept her entertained while she was waiting.

On the door of the gymnasium of West Springfield High School there was a welcoming banner, “Home of the Spartans.” The organization of the event did honor to the banner. The stage could not be simpler: a plastic stand and two American flags. Ryan did not need anything else to dazzle the audience. Wearing Chinese trousers, a blue plaid shirt and holding a microphone, Romney's running mate managed to make the attendees stop fanning with "Romney" banners and instead flutter with excitement. Despite being in a high school, most of the audience was made up of workers around 50 years old, who had recently retired and are supposed to represent the middle class, which is a protagonist of most of Obama’s speeches, Ryan appealed.

Without even changing his tone, and in a calm but forceful manner, the congressman gave an overview of the issues the Republican campaign focuses on (job creation, deficit reduction, etc.). Their strategy that runs perfectly well, though barely laid hands on, was enough to put Romney close to the White House along with his intervention that saved the Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002 as a guarantee of his effectiveness. But he really aroused the fervor of the crowd when he alluded to healthcare reform: “We want this debate, we need this debate, and we will win this debate.” He also talked about the statements of the Iranian president who said that the existence of Israel is an "insult" to humanity, "Under President Romney, our adversaries will think twice about challenging America and our allies.”

Without shrillness, while hardly attacking the Democratic Party, Ryan managed to win if not the vote, the sympathy of the skeptics. "There is no doubt of his charm. He has not said anything different from what he has been repeating these days, but, of course, he has personality," admitted Valdemoro at the end of the rally. Christopher Smith, a 28-year-old employee of Vodafone, also seems to be convinced by Ryan's speech. "I am independent and I have yet to hear what the Democrats have to say, but this candidate has given me hope based on facts, not on fine words like Obama."

Elita Christiansen, a 50-year-old former public relations officer who left Cuba at the age of 11, is a staunch Republican supporter, but she also had doubts about the selection of Ryan as Romney’s number two, since her favorite was the Cuban senator from Florida, Marco Rubio. After Friday it became clear for her. "He is the right candidate. He knows a lot about economics and he will help Romney." While leaving the gym she ran into some students who were waiting for the rally to end to play volleyball. "There are so many people! Who was here?” They were probably the only people that afternoon who were not under the influence of Ryan’s charisma.


Paul Ryan vino a Virgina, habló y convenció. El político republicano regresó este viernes al mismo Estado en el que hace una semana pronunció su primer discurso como candidato a la Vicepresidencia de Estados Unidos. La elección entusiasmó a los dirigentes de su partido que sabían de la capacidad de Ryan tras sus 13 años en el Congreso, pero fuera de los muros del Capitolio casi nadie sabía nada del nuevo número dos, votantes conservadores incluidos. Esa curiosidad por comprobar las dotes políticas del joven representante por Wisconsin es la que movió a muchos de los simpatizantes, indecisos y votantes independientes a acudir al Instituto West Springfield para escuchar a Ryan. Y Ryan no les defraudó.

“La ilusión que Ryan ha generado es grande, pero vamos a ver cuánto dura”, explica Alberto Valdemoro, un abogado de origen colombiano de 50 años. “Necesitamos alguien inteligente para afrontar lo que se nos viene encima y no acabar como Europa. Ryan es brillante, pero demasiado conservador”, concluye. Valdemoro ha votado en otras elecciones a candidatos republicanos y demócratas y acudió al mitin para reunir argumentos y poder decantar su voto de cara al 6 de noviembre. Muchos de los asistentes también se definieron como votantes independientes e indecisos. Su voto podría ser decisivo en los comicios presidenciales ya que Virginia es uno de los Estados clave. Helen Herbs, una jubilada de 60 años lo sabe. “Yo voté a Reagan, pero también voté a Clinton. Obama me ha defraudado pero Romney no me parece una alternativa. A ver cómo es su número dos”, dice mientras se mueve al son de la música Country que ameniza la espera.

Sobre la puerta del gimnasio del Instituto West Springfield un cartel da la bienvenida a la casa de los Spartan. La organización del acto hizo honor al letrero. El escenario no podía ser más sencillo, un atril de plástico y dos banderas de Estados Unidos. Ryan no necesitó nada más para encandilar a los presentes. Con unos pantalones chinos, una camisa de cuadros azules y micrófono en mano, el candidato a la Vicepresidencia consiguió que los asistentes dejaran de abanicarse con las pancartas a favor de Romney para ondearlas entusiasmados. Pese a estar en un instituto, la mayoría del público estaba formado por trabajadores que rondaban los 50 y recién jubilados y a esa clase media, que se supone que representan y que es la protagonista de la mayoría de los discursos de Obama, apeló Ryan.

Sin apenas cambiar el tono de voz, de manera pausada pero enérgica, el congresista hizo un repaso a los temas que focalizan la campaña republicana, creación de puestos de trabajo, reducción del déficit público... Un tema que maneja a la perfección pero del que apenas echó mano, le bastó con poner a Romney y su intervención para salvar los Juegos Olímpicos de Salt Lake City de 2002 como garantía de su eficacia de llegar a la Casa Blanca. Pero cuando verdaderamente consiguió enfervorizar a su auditorio fue cuando aludió a la reforma sanitaria –“Obama quiere un debate, le vamos a dar un debate y lo vamos a ganar”- y a las declaraciones del presidente de Irán refiriéndose a la existencia de Israel como un “insulto” –“con Romney los dirigentes internacionales se lo pensarán dos veces antes de atacar a uno de nuestros aliados”-.

Sin estridencias y sin apenas ataques al Partido Demócrata, el carisma de Ryan logró ganarse, si no el voto, sí la simpatía de los más escépticos. “No hay duda de que tiene ángel. No ha dicho nada distinto a lo que ha venido repitiendo estos días, pero, desde luego, tiene personalidad”, reconoció Valdemoro al final del mitin. A Christopher Smith, de 28 años y empleado de Vodafone, también pareció convencerle el discurso del Ryan. “Soy independiente y aún tengo que escuchar lo que dicen los demócratas, pero el candidato me ha transmitido una esperanza basada en hechos y no en bellas palabras como Obama”.

Elita Christiansen, antigua relaciones públicas de 50 años que abandonó Cuba con 11, es una votante republicana acérrima, pero también tenía sus dudas respecto a la elección como número dos de Ryan, ya que su favorito era el senador por Florida, también de origen cubano, Marco Rubio. Después del viernes lo tiene más claro. “Es el candidato adecuado. Sabe mucho de economía y ayudará a Romney”. Mientras sale del gimnasio se cruza con unas estudiantes que estaban esperando a que finalizara el acto para entrenar a voleibol. "¡Cuánta gente! ¿Qué había aquí?". Probablemente fueran las únicas que esa tarde no estuvieran bajo el influjo del carisma de Ryan.
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