Political briefs

Ryan says he has not discussed No. 2 spot
WASHINGTON — A leading House Republican said Tuesday he hasn’t had a discussion with Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney about taking the No. 2 spot on the ticket this fall.

Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan said the subject hasn’t come up, but said he enjoys working with Romney, whom he has endorsed.

Ryan suggested on NBC’s “Today” show that Romney is miscast politically because he served as governor of Massachusetts, a state with a liberal tradition, saying, “he reminds me of a sort of earnest, upper Midwest person.” Ryan said that Romney “has the principles, the skills, the skills” to govern the country and put the economy on a stronger footing.

Edwards campaign repays $2.1 million
RALEIGH — John Edwards’ campaign has repaid more than $2.1 million in public matching funds received after the Democrat dropped out of the 2008 presidential primary amid a sex scandal.

Federal Election Commission spokeswoman Judith Ingram confirmed Tuesday that the agency had received the money. The bipartisan election commission ruled unanimously last year that Edwards was improperly given the taxpayer money after he suspended his campaign on Jan. 30, 2008.

Edwards appealed that ruling, which the FEC upheld March 12. The campaign was given 30 days to send a check to the U.S. Treasury.

Pawlenty closes book on campaign debt
MINNEAPOLIS — Former Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty said Tuesday his campaign had wiped out the last of its debt and has filed papers to terminate his campaign committee.

The debt stood at nearly half a million dollars last fall, but was down to just a few thousand dollars last month. Pawlenty has had help raising money to pay the bills from GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney.

Pawlenty, a former two-term governor of Minnesota, dropped out of the race in August after a poor showing in the Iowa straw poll. He supports Romney for the GOP nomination.

Wire reports