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Paul Ryan (right) embraces MItt Romney after the latter conceded defeat in last night's Presidential election. David Goldman/AP

Paul Ryan to remain as chair of House Budget committee

The defeated vice-presidential nominee intends to stay on as the Republicans’ leading fiscal spokesman.

DEFEATED VICE-PRESIDENTIAL candidate Paul Ryan plans to return to his Congress – and hopes to keep his status as the Republican Party’s main spokesman on government spending.

The Wisconsin congressman, who retained his seat in the House of Representatives last night while separately running as Mitt Romney’s vice-presidential nominee, has confirmed he intends to remain in active politics.

It had been thought that a defeat for Romney – particularly a heavy one – could see Ryan give up his House seat and focus on other pursuits, but Ryan today said he would take up his congressional seat and serve out his new two-year term.

He told AP, however, that he would first enjoy spending some time with his family.

Observers had speculated that Ryan – if he had planned to run for the Republican nomination in 2016 – could be better served by pursuing higher-profile work, such as becoming a full-time media commentator.

It would be seen as relatively unusual for a member of the House of Representatives to secure a Presidential nomination for either of the two major parties; ordinarily candidates tend to be either current or former Senators or state Governors.

Ryan, who will now be serving his eighth two-year term representing Wisconsin’s first district, had risen to public prominence for his role as the chairman of the House’s Budget committee.

That status, given the Democrats’ control of the Senate, meant Ryan was the main Republican voice in the recent negotiations on raising the US’s national ‘debt ceiling’ – the legal limit on the national debt that the federal government is allowed to build up.

More: Wisconsin Democrat to become first openly gay member of Senate

Previously: Ryan launches “scathing attack” on Obama’s economic record

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    Mute Roy Burns
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    Nov 7th 2012, 5:48 PM

    Well I guess even a rich Hillbilly needs a job.

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    Mute Michael
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    Nov 7th 2012, 6:43 PM

    Or provide them

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    Mute Rory Conway
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    Nov 7th 2012, 5:37 PM

    Falure.

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    Mute Simon Gaites
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    Nov 7th 2012, 5:40 PM

    Fail indeed mate….

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    Mute Seamus Donoghue
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    Nov 7th 2012, 5:41 PM

    He’s well able to play the game anyway… I’ll give him that…

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    Mute Stewie Griffin
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    Nov 7th 2012, 10:20 PM

    he is young and now in a good position to work with democrats and im sure another shot is on the cards in his future but at least now i hope he moves on and stops blocking the democrats and let obama do his thing.

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    Mute Les Rock
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    Nov 7th 2012, 7:11 PM

    I thing some republicans might have a change in attitude. I mean if they keep blocking bill after bill their gonna start looking c**p to the American public…i think they May go with Obama on a couple of things. I think And Ryn’s no1 fan could find himself under pressure from senior republicans .

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    Mute Simon Blake
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    Nov 7th 2012, 9:20 PM

    Ryan is smarmier than Carcetti

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    Mute kingstown
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    Nov 7th 2012, 7:52 PM

    Fascist

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    Mute mattoid
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    Nov 8th 2012, 12:54 AM

    Am I the only one who thinks he looks like Eamon Ryan of the Green Party – are they related??

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    Mute Irish Tax Payer
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    Nov 8th 2012, 1:03 AM

    He speaks lots of economic sense and wants to reward those who work rather than those who refuse to

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