Ryan in Iowa, O'Malley in NH with all eyes on 2016 [View all]

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Source: AP

ALTOONA, Iowa (AP) — Governors get things done.

That's the message from state leaders who are considering a White House run as Washington slips deeper into political paralysis.

Ambitious governors long have cast their accomplishments in contrast to the capital's gridlock. But three years from the 2016 election, several governors are trying to grab more of the national spotlight, while Congress earns all-time low approval ratings.

In events Saturday evening in two important early voting states, Gov. Martin O'Malley, D-Md., was trying to highlight that contrast and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., was trying to fight it.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ryan-iowa-omalley-nh-all-eyes-2016

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This photo taken May 2, 2013 shows Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley speaking before signing a bill abolishing capital punishment in the state during a ceremony in Annapolis, Md. Governors get things done. That’s the message coming from state leaders eying the presidency as Washington slips deeper into political paralysis. Ambitious governors have long cast their accomplishments in contrast to D.C.’s gridlock. But three years from the 2016 election, a full raft of governors are seeking more of the national spotlight, while Congress suffers from all-time low approval. Efforts Saturday by O’Malley’s to highlight the contrast and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s to fight it underscore the paradox within the emerging 2016 field: Governors with little national recognition are competing with better-known federal lawmakers marked with the stain of Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)