Republican Mitt Romney reset the race for the presidency as a battle over the size and scope of the federal government Saturday, choosing as his running mate Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the architect of the GOP\u2019s plans to slash spending and overhaul Medicare.<\/p>\n
In a risky and surprising move to give his campaign a jolt of momentum, Romney chose the 42-year-old congressman over several contenders considered safer bets. The selection seemed destined to shift the tone of a campaign that has become mired in petty squabbles and force a debate over how to tackle the nation\u2019s fiscal challenges.
\n.<\/p>\n
In tapping the conservative star, Romney inextricably tied himself to Ryan\u2019s controversial vision for erasing the country\u2019s red ink \u2014 a revamp of Medicare, deep spending cuts and a restructured tax code that would lower all rates, even for the wealthy.<\/p>\n
Romney announced his selection in dramatic fashion Saturday morning, with each man stepping down the deck of the USS Wisconsin \u2014 a World War II-era battleship named for Ryan\u2019s home state \u2014 to the soundtrack of the movie \u201cAir Force One.\u201d And at a trio of packed rallies across Virginia, Romney praised his new partner as a servant of America\u2019s working classes and a citizen of integrity, character and vision.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s never been content to simply curse the darkness,\u201d Romney said of Ryan. \u201cHe\u2019d rather light candles.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before a cheering crowd of more than 1,500 here, Ryan introduced himself by saying the ticket offers a brand of candid leadership missing under President Obama.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe commitment Mitt Romney and I make to you is this: We won\u2019t duck the tough issues; we will lead,\u201d Ryan said. \u201cWe won\u2019t blame others; we will take responsibility. And we won\u2019t replace our founding principles; we will reapply them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two then loaded onto Romney\u2019s campaign bus with their wives and families to travel north through this important swing state, showing in their first hours together an easy rapport that reflected the chemistry that had impressed Romney\u2019s aides from the time the two first campaigned together in April.<\/p>\n
Ryan was a pick for a candidate in need of a jolt; recent polls had shown Obama with a small but steady lead over Romney in key swing states.<\/p>\n
The selection achieved the rare feat of pleasing leaders in both parties. Top conservatives said Ryan would energize the party\u2019s base and offer an articulate and robust defense of smaller government.
\nDemocrats said they were equally convinced voters will reject Ryan\u2019s prescription for deficit reduction as too harsh. Obama campaign manager Jim Messina quickly called the Ryan budget proposals \u201cradical\u201d
\nand said they would ensure \u201cbudget-busting tax cuts for the wealthy, while placing greater burdens on the middle class and seniors.\u201d<\/p>\n
Democrats immediately blasted supporters with fundraising notices about the pick. \u201cYeah \u2014 that Paul Ryan. The architect of the Republican plan to kill Medicare,\u201d began one from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.<\/p>\n
Washington Post<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Republican Mitt Romney reset the race for the presidency as a battle over the size and scope of the federal government Saturday, choosing as his running mate Rep. Paul Ryan…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3020,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n