Well, it’s Paul Ryan. Clearly my Bob McDonnell and Rob Portman predictions were WILDLY inaccurate. I thought Romney would play it safe and go for an uncontroversial guy that could help him win a swing state or two – instead, he swung for the fences, albeit in a much more conventional way than candidate McCain did with his selection of Sarah Palin.
Overall, I’m skeptical of the choice in the long run. Romney needed a shake up, and this is a great way to double down on his “the economy, stupid” argument, but I think it also doubles down on his “Rich Guy candidate” image. Ryan’s plan is ambitious, but definitely opens up for attack on the dramatic way it reorganizes Medicare, and for the lack of depth when it comes to loophole closure and budget cuts that would be needed in order for the plan to not be a massive deficit.
That said, Ryan will acquit himself well in the campaign, and it presents a great image of two serious, intelligent, “management types.” I just think that since “management types” are the guys that handed a lot of people there pink slips, it’s going to back fire on the GOP.
