Paul Ryan to headline ‘Mad Men’-themed fundraiser for DC conservative group

Some Republicans might have been miffed when popular television show “Mad Men” poked fun at presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s father in a recent episode, but House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is embracing the AMC series.

{mosads}The Wisconsin Republican is attending a “Mad Men”-themed gala dinner Tuesday night in Washington hosted by the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute, Yahoo News reports.

According to the organization’s website, tickets for the event — which start at $250 for an individual seat and rise to $40,000 for groups — are sold out.

Ryan will attend the event after stumping earlier in the day for the Romney campaign in Raleigh, N.C., where he’ll be hosting an economic roundtable at Big Ed’s City Market, a Southern restaurant near the state capitol. The appearance has fueled speculation that the popular congressman could be climbing the shortlist for Romney’s vice presidential nod.