DANVILLE — Other than his family, who should know Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan than his workout buddy?



Ryan, a spectacularly fit 42, has become known for his rigorous workout routine – a program called P90X – as well as for his budget proposals and his selection by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney as a running mate.



U.S. Rep. Aaron Shock, R-Ill., says he meets Ryan every morning at 6:30 a.m. for a tough workout before they leave for a meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee.



“Paul is a great and close personal friend,” Shock said Thursday afternoon in advance of Ryan’s faceoff with Democratic incumbent Vice President Joe Biden at Center College. “But he’s also a mentor. I know he’s looking forward to his debate.”



Shock acknowledges there’s a bit of extra pressure on Ryan in his first debate on a national stage, and with Biden, a veteran debater after 36 years in the Senate and himself a candidate for president in the 2008 Democratic primary. Many observers thought Biden out-debated then candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in those 2008 debates.



“Anytime it’s your first national debate, on a national stage like this will be and the other guy’s had 19 debates, then I think that’s a disadvantage for Paul,” said Shock who at 31 is the youngest member of Congress.



That doesn’t imply Ryan will not do well. Ryan knows the issues and knows in detail the federal budget, Shock said.



“Both men are capable campaigners and both are good communicators,” Shock said. “Paul will do fine.”



One thing Shock wants Ryan to do is seize the opportunity to respond to efforts by Democrats to characterize Ryan as extreme on budget proposals that would significantly cut back domestic programs like Medicare and Medicaid.



Those budget proposals, Shock said, won’t be the final package approved by Congress, regardless of who wins this year’s presidential election.



“It’s a starting point – really it’s the only one out there,” Shock said. “What’s the alternative the other side is offering? I haven’t seen one.”



RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.