Until a fortnight ago, it looked like Mitt Romney wanted to make the safest, least dramatic vice-presidential pick possible, a running mate who would be the unPalin - someone who would be a news story for the day but would not alter the shape of the campaign. Someone like Tim Pawlenty or Rob Portman.
Either this approach was a feint all along or something changed as the 2012 campaign descended into petty, slimy negativity and Romney began to slip slightly in the polls despite a terrible economy and unemployment rising to 8.3 percent.
Choosing Ryan is a bold and surprising - though by no means as outlandish as Sarah Palin in 2008 - choice. Vice-presidential running mates seldom have a major impact on the outcome of a presidential election. But this time, Ryan might make a difference - here are 10 reasons why:
1. The image of Romney as a safety-first campaigner hoping to win the presidency by default as voters turfed out Barack Obama will now disappear. The Ryan pick indicates Romney is prepared to take a calculated risk and be decisive. He's going big, rather than small. At a time when the US faces huge problems, that could be a major advantage.
2. Fears of the Republican base not turning out for Romney will now evaporate. In terms of unifying Establishment conservatives and grassroots activists, Ryan is a winner...
(Excerpt) Read more at harndenblog.dailymail.co.uk ...
