In scenic Janesville, where Mitt Romney’s running mate spent most of his life, Paul Ryan’s friends and neighbors described him as a warm and down-to-earth family man who shuns politics at social gatherings. – Even before he was old enough to ride a bike, Paul Ryan seemed destined for a career in politics. Growing up in a well-to-do neighborhood in southern Wisconsin, a young Ryan displayed leadership skills that awed his preschool teacher.