By the Numbers: Paul Ryan As Conservative As … John Boehner

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Gage Skidmore / Flickr

The former Mitt Romney adviser who vetted Paul Ryan for the VP slot has nothing but good things to say to the Independent Journal about potential Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.

Beth Myers, the  who vetted vice presidential candidates for his 2012 campaign, thinks Rep. Paul Ryan could make a good speaker of the House.

“He’s a really smart guy, but doesn’t act like he’s the smartest guy in the room … He’s somebody that people learn through experience to trust.”

She’s also puzzled by questions regarding his conservatism.

She also doesn’t buy the notion among some Republicans that Ryan isn’t conservative, calling it “kind of an unusual thought.”

An academic political scaling system National Journal used last week to track how conservative Ryan is backs Myers up.

According to the data, Ryan would be: “the most conservative House speaker in recent history.”

That may be true; however, it’s worth noting that the system, which gives Ryan a score of .58 on its scale also gives outgoing Speaker John Boehner a score of .53.

Given the current dissatisfaction with Boehner and Ryan’s Boehner-like conservative rating, some may not see it as a strong argument for Ryan, regardless of his other qualities.

She said his experience “working as part of a team” with Romney “will serve him well as speaker,” characterizing him as a leader who’s not uncomfortable in the No. 2 position or not getting all the credit.

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