Obama warns voters to beware of Ryan

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- President Obama's campaign warned U.S. voters in an e-mail they could be hung out to dry under a Mitt Romney administration.

Obama's campaign wasted little time in blasting Romney's new running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., as being bent on throwing seniors and middle class under the bus and that Republican statements to the contrary were a political smokescreen.

"It's our job, especially in these first few days and weeks, to make sure voters get the facts on his (Ryan's) record, and a clear picture as to what a Romney-Ryan administration would look like for regular people, when the slogans fade away and the real policy decisions they'd face as president and vice president are on the table," senior Obama adviser David Axelrod said in an e-mail to supporters.

The Hill said Axelrod's e-mail spelled out the expected Obama campaign strategy heading into November -- portraying Romney and Ryan as leaders of a militant element bent on slashing social services and lowering taxes on the wealthy.

"As a leader of the House Republicans and a Tea Party favorite, Congressman Ryan has led the relentless, intensely ideological battle for these kinds of budget-busting policies that punish seniors and the middle class," the message said.

Ryan has thus far not backed away from the potentially drastic changes he has been advocating, The Hill said.