Obama team launches critique of Ryan before speech

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Even before Paul Ryan takes the stage at the Republican convention, President Barack Obama’s campaign is seeking to cast the GOP running mate as “out of step” with American voters.

The Obama campaign has launching an online video targeting Ryan as a politician from a “bygone era.” The video criticizes Ryan for being the architect of a budget that would overhaul Medicare and for trying to defund Planned Parenthood.

Ryan, the Wisconsin congressman, is due to address the GOP convention Wednesday night. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will speak to delegates, and a prime-time audience across the country, on Thursday.

Obama is traveling Wednesday to Charlottesville, Va., the last stop on his two-day trip to counter the GOP convention message and appeal to younger voters in college towns.