Reports: Van Hollen to Play Role of Rival Paul Ryan in VP Debate Prep

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-MD, will play the role of GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan in practice verbal sparring with Vice President Joe Biden, who will face Ryan in a televised debate before the November election, two television networks reported late Thursday.

Van Hollen, who represents Maryland's 8th District, routinely confronts Ryan in exchanges on Capitol Hill where Van Hollen is the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, which Ryan chairs.

The two often clash over the same issues that will likely come up in the one televised debate between Biden and Ryan, CBS News and ABC News reported.

Van Hollen may know Ryan's controversial federal financial plan better than anyone, ABC reported.

"There's no place where Ryan could go that Van Hollen didn't go up with him toe to toe," a Democratic aide told CBS.

President Barack Obama's campaign officials told CBS that debate preparation has not begun but that Van Hollen has accepted the role of Ryan stand-in.

Biden and Ryan are scheduled to face off in Danville, KY, Oct. 11.

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts will reportedly be Mitt Romney's stand-in for Obama's debate prep.