plan, not ryan's. they have done that to remind people that the tail will not wag the dog. that the running mate will not overshadow the nominee. any presidential candidate would say that the same thing, but keeping ryan's plan out of the debate is virtually impossible. romney and ryan face the possibility that before the convention, obama and the democrats will define ryan's budget and in particular his changes to medicare, so negatively, that the damage will be long-lasting. that's why romney's campaign has moved quickly to blunt the medicare attacks but this fight is just starting which is what makes these weeks a defining moment in the campaign. jonathan capehart? >> i think, you know, dan is right. this is what we've been talking about since paul ryan's selection. particularly what you guys have been talking about. you know the battle is joined and medicare, social security, medicaid, they've all been known as a third rail of american politics and what mitt romney did by choosing paul ryan is just grab hold of it with both