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Who Is Paul Ryan? - Political junkies have been following Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan's rising star from Capitol Hill staffer to influential chairman of the House Budget Committee. But close to half of Americans are unfamiliar with the Republican vice presidential nominee, which both Democrats and the GOP are eager to change. Ryan, 42, is so far best known for authoring the GOP budget titled Pathway to Prosperity. Here are ten facts about him that helped forge his path onto the GOP presidential ticket. —Joyce Jones(Photo: Darren Hauck/Getty Images)

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Ayn Rand Fan - Paul Ryan is a long-time and avid fan of the Russian novelist, philosopher and atheist Ayn Rand, and has credited her as the reason he entered public service. This year, he rejected her controversial ideal of a society in which individuals doggedly pursue their own self-interests without concern for others and government doesn't meddle with human affairs. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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He's a Survivor - When Ryan's father died, the future lawmaker, then just 16, discovered the body. He responded to the tragedy by becoming self-reliant and used his Social Security survivors benefits to pay for his college education.(Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Family Man - Ryan and wife Janna are the parents of sons Charles and Samuel and daughter Elizabeth. Janna is a former Capitol Hill staffer and lobbyist who hails from an Oklahoma family with strong Democratic ties. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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An Oscar Mayer Wiener - According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as a college student Ryan worked a summer job as an Oscar Mayer salesman in Minnesota, selling turkey bacon and Lunchables. He also took a turn behind the wheel of the Wienermobile. (Photo: John Adkisson/Getty Images)

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Words to Regret? - In 2010, Ryan told C-SPAN that he was "not a fan" of the universal health care bill Mitt Romney passed as governor of Massachusetts and in a 2011 interview said that it was "not that dissimilar to Obamacare." (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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RyanMobile - As a young congressman, Ryan converted an old truck into an office so he could visit his district's rural areas. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Some Choices Are Not an Option - A devout Catholic, Ryan is a co-sponsor of the Sanctity of Human Life Act, which deems that life begins at fertilization and bans abortion, some forms of contraception and in vitro fertilization. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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A Good Sport - Ryan loves hunting and fishing, and proposed to his wife during a fishing trip in St. Germain Lake in northern Wisconsin. He's also a bowman and member of the Janesville Bowmen archery association. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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Thanks, But No Thanks - President George W. Bush asked Ryan to serve as his budget director in Bush's second term, an offer he declined.(Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Tunes In to Tune Out - When Ryan walks from the Capitol to his House office after votes, he more often than not is plugged into his iPod in an attempt to avoid pesky reporters. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)