Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said on Saturday he has chosen Congressman Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate, a move that will bring the debate over how to reduce government spending and debt to the forefront of the race for the White House.
Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, announced that he has tapped the House of Representatives Budget Committee chairman at an event at the retired battleship USS Wisconsin - coincidentally named for Ryan's home state. Chicago Tribune
Romney said Ryan, 42, "has become an intellectual leader of the
Republican Party," and stressed that their campaign will focus on ways to create
jobs, protect Medicare and Social Security, and repeal the health care law
enacted under Democratic President Barack Obama. Chicago Tribune The announcement marked the end a months-long search by Romney for a
running mate to join him in facing Obama and Vice President Joe Biden in the
November 6 election. Chicago Tribune Development comes after polls this week showed Romney falling
slightly behind Obama in what is still a close race, in a campaign that is
focused largely on the weak U.S. economy. Chicago Tribune Ryan is a bold pick who will energize the Republican Party, but
putting him on the ticket is fraught with risk and instantly puts Ryan's budget
plan front and center in the 2012 campaign. Huffingtonpost President Barack Obama's re-election campaign suggested the pick
represents a stark choice for voters. "Mitt Romney has chosen a leader of the
House Republicans who shares his commitment to the flawed theory that new
budget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, while placing greater burdens on the
middle class and seniors, will somehow deliver a stronger economy," said Obama
campaign manager Jim Messina. Wall Street Journal
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