Medicare on the campaign trail

Republican Vice Presidential hopeful Paul Ryan is joined by his mother on the campaign trail in Florida.

He used it as a chance to make the debate about Medicare personal.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) REP. PAUL RYAN SAYING:

"When I think about Medicare, it is not just a program. It is not just a bunch of numbers, it's what my mom relies on."

One of congressman's Ryan's best-known achievements - a budget plan that would slash Medicare costs by converting it from a program that guarantees benefits to retirees to one that provides subsidies to buy coverage.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) REP. PAUL RYAN SAYING:

"Now, you have heard the President has been talking about Medicare a bit lately. We want this debate. We need this debate. And we are going to win this debate."

U.S. President Obama was only to happy to take up the medicare issue at a campaign stop in New Hampshire.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING:

"Their plan makes senior pay more so they can give a tax break to millionaires and billionaires."

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that Medicare has become the top healthcare issue in the 2012 election, surpassing worries about Obama' controversial healthcare law.