Fox News gets first solo interview with Paul Ryan
WASHINGTON – Fox News has secured the first solo interview with newly-named Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan.
The interview, which will be taped on Monday in Denver, will be conducted by Brit Hume and will air in segments throughout the day on Tuesday. It will air in full on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baeir on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Mitt Romney and Ryan sat down for a joint interview with CBS News’ Bob Schieffer on Sunday, but the Fox interview will be the first time Ryan does a solo appearance.
The timing of the interview seems to suggest a message that Romney’s campaign is eager to send – that their vice presidential nominee is ready, literally, for prime time, in contrast to the 2008 Republican ticket when Sarah Palin waited nearly two weeks before granting any interviews.
Ryan has been a prominent Republican congressman, but is relatively unknown on a national stage, heightening the importance of his first several prominent appearances.
Fox News has a reputation for being a friendly venue for Republican candidates – and has been a favorite stopping place for Romney – but they have also thrown some fastballs. Baier, in an interview with Romney last year, riled Romney with questions about his Massachusetts health care plan, to the point where Romney told Baier later his questions were “uncalled for.”
Matt Viser can be reached at maviser@globe.com.
