Joe Biden Welcomes Paul Ryan to the Race

The Vice President and the Congressman will debate each other for the first time on October 11.

Vice President Joe Biden personally called his newly-minted VP challenger Rep. Paul Ryan this morning to essentially say:  "game on."

In a statement following the call, the Obama campaign said Biden wanted to congratulate Ryan, a congressional colleague for the past 13 years, and "welcome him to the race."

"The Vice President urged Congressman Ryan to enjoy the day with his family," the statement reads, "and said he looked forward to engaging him on the clear choice voters face this November."