WARREN, Ohio (AP) - Republican vice presidential contender Paul Ryan says he never would have included a $700 billion Medicare cut in his budget if President Barack Obama hadn't done it first.

Mitt Romney and his running mate Ryan have been criticizing Obama in recent days for taking Medicare funds to help pay for his health care overhaul. But the Republican candidates haven't mentioned that Ryan's own budget proposal included the same cut.

A reporter pressed Ryan on the issue during an impromptu stop at a local hot dog restaurant on Thursday.

The Wisconsin congressman says that he "never would have done that in the first place." He blamed Obama for making the original proposal.

He also says he voted to repeal the president's health care law, which would repeal the Medicare cut.