But all that changed at Miami University of Ohio when Ryan declared that he welcomed a national debate on the issue.

“We want this debate, we need this debate and we will win this debate, ” the Wisconsin lawmaker told several hundred supporters gathered for an outdoor rally.

“The president, I’m told, is talking about Medicare today, ” Ryan said. “What I don’t think he’ll be telling people is that the president took $۷۱۶ billion from the Medicare program — he raided it to pay for Obamacare. The president’s campaign says this raid of Medicare to pay for Obamacare, which leads to fewer services for current seniors, is an achievement.

“Do you think raiding Medicare to pay for Obamacare is an achievement? ” Ryan asked the crowd, which roared " No! " in response. “Well, neither do I. ”

Although reforming Medicare to slash the budget deficit is his signature issue and the main reason he is even considered a national figure, Ryan’s speeches since he parted ways with Romney on Monday have been focused on the economy, energy and the negative tone of the campaign.

It’s a strange twist for the Wisconsin lawmaker, whose entire brand has been built on his “Ryan budget. ” But Romneyland seems to realize that Ryan needs to define himself in a broader way that is less easy for Democrats to demonize.

Since he was picked last weekend, Democrats have been slamming presidential and congressional Republicans for trying to destroy Medicare.

Minutes after Ryan wrapped up his speech, a Barack Obama campaign spokesman said that Romney forced Ryan to attack his own budget.

“Congressman Ryan knows that the $۷۱۶ billion in Medicare savings that he included in two of his own budgets do not cut a single guaranteed Medicare benefit. It’s a shame that someone picked for his ‘strong beliefs’ is now abandoning them just to help Mr. Romney score a political point. ”

The Miami University speech marks the first time Ryan’s uttered the word “Medicare” during his own public events, which have been sprinkled across the country.

In the days since Romney announced Ryan as his vice presidential pick, Ryan has not mentioned the word “Medicare” once during his own public events sprinkled across the country.

The Wisconsin lawmaker didn’t bring it up in Iowa, where he spoke at the soapbox at the Iowa State Fair, or in speeches in crowded high school gymnasiums in Denver and Las Vegas.

Ryan instead has repeatedly blasted Obama and his administration for giving America’s children a “diminished future” and for “demonizing small businesses. ” He’s charged Obama with giving Americans nothing but “division and demagoguery” while he and Romney “offer optimism and opportunity, ” and declared that “Obamanomics is not working. ”

While Ryan’s speeches have energized audiences here — who at times sound more like they’re watching a sporting event than a political rally — the lawmaker has avoided any mention of his plan to help future seniors purchase health insurance rather than receive coverage directly from Medicare.

But Ryan plans, for the first time, to travel on his own this weekend to senior-heavy Florida, where his campaign has said he will address entitlement reform.