Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has been both a rival of Mitt Romney and a boss of Romney's running mate. Now, Brownback has served as a surrogate for the GOP presidential nominee in a crucial swing state.

The Youngstown, Ohio, Vindicator reported that Brownback spent Tuesday on a five-city tour of northeastern Ohio stumping for the Republican ticket of Ryan and Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan.

Brownback, elected governor in 2010, is a former U.S. senator. Ryan served on Brownback's U.S. Senate staff in the 1990s.

Brownback unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2007, opposing both Romney and the eventual nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

In the 2012 race, Brownback initially endorsed the presidential bid of Texas Gov. Rick Perry.