Paul Ryan spending millions on House race

The race for the White House is on the line, but GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan is still keeping his eye on things back home in Wisconsin.

ABC News reports Ryan, a seven-term congressman, is spending about $2 million on a media campaign -- covering TV, radio and print -- to win his House race against Democrat Rob Zerban. Ryan's ninth TV ad of the race is expected to run before Election Day, the report says.

Ryan's spending comes as national polls show the race between President Obama and Mitt Romney is neck and neck.

As we've noted before, Ryan is not the first member of Congress to run for president or vice president while also running for re-election back home. Joe Biden did it in 2008, won both races, and gave up his Senate seat in Delaware before taking his oath as vice president.

Zerban, a businessman and former Kenosha County supervisor, has tried to tie Ryan to controversial statements about rape made by Senate nominees Todd Akin in Missouri and Richard Mourdock in Indiana. Zerban raised more campaign money than Ryan did last quarter, but Ryan has more money in the bank to spend.

The race for Wisconsin's 1st District is rated as "safe Republican" by Roll Call and ABC News.